on the west bank, where the
drivers of the waggons were doing their utmost to urge on their beasts.
The sailors were getting quickly up to the nearest of them to put a stop
to their progress, while the others ahead still endeavoured to escape;
some in their hurry getting off the road upset. The wildest uproar and
confusion ensued, the drivers shrieking to their beasts, the seamen
shouting as they rushed forward.

One of the leading waggons, as it dashed forward, overtook a carriage
which had apparently been on its way down to the ferry, when the
postillions, alarmed by the sounds which reached their ears, turned it
round to escape in the opposite direction. A waggon coming against its
hinder wheel, had upset it on one side of the road. Just at that
juncture, Adair and Desmond, who with their men had gone ahead, arriving
at the spot, heard cries for help from female voices proceeding from the
carriage. At the same moment they saw a gentlemanly-looking personage
in a travelling-dress emerging from one of the windows, and several
others, who had evidently been on the outside, endeavouring to pick
themselves up in a field into which they had been thrown.

"If that isn't Tom Rogers, I'm not an Irishman!" exclaimed Desmond; "and
there's Archie Gordon, too--hurrah! provided they haven't broken their
legs or arms, they'll be all to rights after all;--and that's no other
than our friend Colonel Paskiewich."

Hurrying forward to assist Colonel Paskiewich in extricating himself
from the overturned carriage, they perceived that there were several
ladies in the inside, who, although they every now and then uttered
screams, were wisely remaining quiet, holding each other in their arms.

"Thank you, gentlemen," said the colonel; "I must now ask you to help
out my wife and daughters, who are naturally fearfully alarmed at what
has occurred."

"We regret to have been the unintentional cause of their disaster," said
Adair politely; while he and Gerald, climbing up on the side of the
carriage, caught hold of one of the young ladies, who proved to be
Mademoiselle Feodorowna. They were quickly joined by Tom and Archie,
the former of whom took the fair Feodorowna in charge. Another person
now made his way up from the field into which he had been thrown.

"Why, Higson, my fine fellow, I am very glad to see you!" exclaimed
Adair; "where do you come from?"

"I'll tell you all about it by and by," answered Higson, "when we have
got