230 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



carry us through. For myself I had not the least 

 fear, for Desert-Born was of the purest Nedjed 

 blood; but I had serious apprehensions for my 

 friend, as his horse, although a well-bred animal, 

 was not in running condition. We directed our 

 course towards the river, in a bee line ; and in a 

 short time I knew we were distancing the bulk 

 of our pursuers, as their cries became less and 

 less distinct. On looking round, however, I per- 

 ceived three fellows, evidently officers, although 

 dressed similar to the troopers, who were much 

 better mounted than the rest, and seemed to hold 

 their own with us, although about four hundred 

 yards behind. Fritz's horse was beginning to 

 show distress, for the pace was terrific ; and now 

 not a sound was heard but the hard breathings of 

 the horses and the stroke of their hoofs. Ping! 

 goes a bullet past our ears ; and now I knew was 

 my time. Bidding my companion to keep up his 

 speed, I pulled up my well-trained charger, and 

 dismounting under cover of a bush, dropped on my 

 knee, and fired right and left at the leading pur- 

 suers. The man who had just discharged his 



