road clean and
well paved led straight on, and Wharton and Carstairs seemed to know it
well.

"Another inn would suit me," said John who was the first to speak in
more than an hour. "I shouldn't want to stop because I know we haven't
time for it, but I'd like to look in at the window, as I rode by, and
see the fire blazing."

"You'll see nothing of that kind before one o'clock in the afternoon,"
said Carstairs. "Then we come to another neat little village, and
another good inn. We'll have to stop there for our horses to feed, as we
gave them nothing this morning. So you can do more than look at the
window and see the blazing fire."

The road led now between high hedges, and they heard a report some
distance to their right. Wharton who was in front suddenly pulled back
his horse.

"What's the matter?" the other two exclaimed together.

"A bee stung me," replied Wharton grimly.

He held up his left hand. The blood was flowing from a thin red line
across the back of it.

"A bullet did that!" exclaimed Carstairs.

A second report came, and John felt a rush of air past his face.

"Gallop, boys, gallop!" exclaimed Wharton. "Somebody has ambushed us,
Uhlans, I suppose, and we've got to run!"

"They must be in the fields!" said Carstairs, as the three urged their
horses at once to their utmost speed. Luckily, they had been coming at a
slow pace and their mounts were strong.

John thought rapidly. The modern high-powered rifle carried far, and he
judged by the faintness of the reports that the bullets had been fired
from a point several hundred yards away. They had done under impulse the
very thing they ought to do, and their present speed would soon leave
the raiders behind.

The three rode neck and neck and as they galloped on two more bullets
whistled near them.

"An ambush," said Carstairs coolly, "but we've rushed through it."

"Anyway, our luck is better than Weber's," said Wharton. "He was pinked
in the arm and we're unhurt. At least I think so. How are you, Scott?"

"Well but scared."

"I believe the first statement, but not the second And you Carstairs."

"Well but annoyed."

"I believe both your statements."

"Is it your recollection that these hedges continue far, Carstairs?"
asked Wharton.

"Five or six miles at least."

"That's mine too, but I hoped I was wrong. It gives those bushwackers an
advantage. With the hedges right beside us we can't see well over them,
but they on the hills at