ide stations that helped
us on, and if we had only had the gumption to fly on past the junction
when we were level, we should have been able to board the train at the
next stop without hurry. However, we only discovered that afterwards,
and as the mistake once made could not be rectified, we held grimly on.

Hills bothered us a little at times, and the windings of the road added
to our handicap; but when at last we came down to the semicircular
plain on whose edge Palma stands, we thought we saw victory ahead.

"There's between eight and ten kilometres to do," said Haigh, "and as
it's all on the flat and straight, we should, with luck, be home first,
and waiting to meet them."

"Don't you be too cocksure," said I. "It isn't all over but the
shouting by a very long chalk. If you notice, there's been some rain
falling here, and down on the flat there's been a lot by the look of
it. I'm afraid that will mean heavy going for our wheels."

As we got down to the level this evil prophecy showed itself a true
one. There was gluey mud on the well-made track often three inches
deep, and though our driver flogged industriously, the tired mules were
seldom able to muster up anything better than a lumbering canter. We
had the train in sight all the time, and could see that we were
dropping astern at every stride. It was very mortifying.

But as the race neared its close Fortune again pulled a string in our
favour. A distant whistle screamed, and we saw the train gradually
bring up to a standstill alongside a signal-post. The respite was not
for long, for the barrier was soon withdrawn, and she steamed into the
station; but it had enabled us to see the pair we were chasing come
sharply out of the buildings, enter a carriage, and get driven away
through the gate into the city.

"What now?" demanded Haigh.

"On after them," exclaimed the anarchist.

"What! in this rattletrap?"

"Of course," said I.

"But everybody will stare."

"Oh, what the devil does that matter?"

"Why, for myself, I must say that in a fashionable place like this,
with a lot of girls about, I----Hullo! that settles it, though."

"What?"

"Look ahead, dear boy. There's a heavy cart just shed a wheel slap-bang
in the middle of the _puerto_. The way will be blocked for an hour
at least."

"Out we get then, and follow 'em to earth on foot. Thank goodness, the
streets are very crowded, so their carriage won't be able to get along
at more than a foot's