re Jim could not possibly avoid being
discovered; but he need not have been alarmed; the shooting was
execrable, and the bullets flew everywhere but near the fugitive.
Several of them flattened themselves against the face of the boulder
behind which Douglas was lying, and one nearly blinded him with the dust
which it threw up as it plugged into the earth just in front of his
face.

The Peruvians did not keep up their target practice very long, for they
found it impossible to hit the runner, and realised that he gained a lot
of ground when they pulled up to fire. They therefore rose to their
feet and dashed along in pursuit once more, only occasionally
discharging their weapons pistol-wise in the hope of a lucky bullet
finding its billet.

And now they were approaching the rock where Jim was concealed; in a
very few seconds he must be prepared to act, and to act quickly too.
They evidently had no idea that a second prisoner was so close to them,
for, to the young man's great relief, they were aiming to pass the rock
at a distance of quite eighty yards. Closer and closer they came, and
as they did so Jim gradually edged his way round the rock in such a
manner as to keep out of their sight as far as was possible. Another
moment's suspense and the leading soldier had passed the rock without
giving it so much as a glance. Then another and another man panted
past, until presently the rearmost Peruvian went grunting and gasping
by.

In a second Jim had sprung to his feet and was scudding along in the
wake of the rearmost soldier, at the same time edging away to the right
of the rock in such a manner as to bring him directly behind the group
of Peruvians. Then he put on the pace a little, and found that he could
easily outrun any of the soldiers, since he himself was quite fresh
while they were already somewhat winded. He soon overtook the last
soldier, and began to pass him, his heart in his throat with
apprehension lest the fellow should recognise him as one of the Chilian
officers, and shout his discovery to the rest. But the fellow, although
somewhat astonished to find that there had been a comrade behind while
he thought that he himself was the rearmost man, paid little attention
to his supposed comrade, being too much out of breath to do much
thinking. Douglas passed him, unsuspected, and meanwhile kept his eye
on the Chilian, who, although obviously failing in speed, was rapidly
nearing the belt of forest.