220 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



leaf. However, I was master of the situation, for 

 borrowing a turban from one, and a shawl from 

 another, I extemporised a make-shift so as to hide 

 my nakedness ; and, seizing a lance, vaulted on my 

 horse, when " Kichard was himself again." I 

 found the vanguard giving chase to a small party 

 of horsemen, who evidently thought discretion the 

 better part of valour, for they were making "a 

 strategetic movement to the rear," as fast as their 

 nags could lay legs to the ground. 



Kegardless of my personal appearance, I joined 

 in the pursuit, and " Desert-Born," the pride of the 

 camp, and the most perfect charger that trooper 

 ever bestrode, soon overtook the leading files of the 

 Bashi Bazouks, and was fast nearing the fugitives, 

 who, scared at my approach, dismounted and knelt 

 beside their horses. Had they turned out to be 

 Cossacks, doubtlessly I should have come to grief; 

 as, besides their being six to one, I was riding 

 bare-back (my saddle being in the boat) and armed 

 only with a blunt unwieldy lance ; however, they 

 turned out to be only Wallachian peasants, who by 

 accident had stumbled upon our scouts. Fearing 



