ford quite as quickly. They accordingly kept on till it was reached,
and then, wading across, they returned down the opposite bank, Jack
considering it important to keep in the road they had come. By the time
they had got opposite the stacks, the whole were blazing fiercely up,
throwing a ruddy glare on all the objects around to a considerable
distance. They thus stood revealed to the inhabitants on the opposite
side, who appeared not to be aware till then who were the perpetrators
of the deed.

Just then they saw a large body of Cossacks galloping up towards the
fire, some of whom by their gestures had, it seemed, at that moment
caught sight of them.

"We must put on all our steam, or these fellows will be at our heels,"
said Jack; and again they set forward. One glance he cast over his
shoulder showed him the Cossacks making for the ford; he could not help
feeling very doubtful whether he and his party could keep ahead of them.
The bank of the first river they had crossed was again reached, and
plunging in, partly by swimming, and partly by wading, they boldly
pushed across, thus avoiding the loss of time by going round by the
ford.

Scarcely, however, had they got over, when through the gloom of night
they distinguished the Cossacks galloping towards them. They did not
stop long to shake themselves, but dashed on, still hoping to keep
ahead, as the Cossacks would have to go some distance up the stream to
cross the ford.

"I only wish the fellows would try to swim," said Dick; "their horses
would stick in the mud and rushes we've had a hard job to get through.
Keep up, Jerry, keep up," he continued, observing that his companion was
flagging; "we've a clear road before us, and we mustn't let our legs
play us false."

Thus encouraged, Jerry made fresh efforts to keep alongside his
companions. Jack felt his own legs moving somewhat heavily, and could
not help acknowledging to himself that there was every probability of
their being overtaken; once across the stream, the Cossacks on their
fleet steeds would soon be up to them. The thought of being speared in
the back by a savage horseman, and left to die like dogs, was too
terrible.

"No; if we are overtaken, we must fight for it, and die like men, with
our faces to the foe," said Jack aloud.

"Ay, ay, sir, that we will!" exclaimed Dick; "maybe, however, they'll
miss us; and if we can get anywhere near the boat, Mr Rogers and our
fellows will help us by