re waiting. Again I pointed, this
time to the boat.

"Over the hedge, Michelot!" I cried. "We must ride in a straight line
for the water and so intercept them. Follow me."

Over the hedge we went, and down the gentle slope at as round a pace
as the soft ground would with safety allow. I had reckoned upon being
opposed to six or even eight men, whereas there were but four, one of
whom I knew was hardly to be reckoned. Doubtless St. Auban had imagined
himself safe from pursuit when he left two of his bravos with the
horses, probably to take them on to Meung, and there cross with them and
rejoin him. Two more, I doubted not, were those seated at the oars.

I laughed to myself as I took in all this, but, even as I laughed, those
in the field stood still, and sent up a shout that told me we had been
perceived.

"On, Michelot, on!" I shouted, spurring my horse forward. Then, in
answer to their master's call, the two ruffians who had been doing duty
as grooms came pounding into the field.

"Ride to meet them, Michelot!" I cried. Obediently he wheeled to the
left, and I caught the swish of his sword as it left the scabbard.

St. Auban was now hurrying towards the river with his party. Already
they were but fifty yards from the boat, and a hundred still lay between
him and me. Furiously I pressed onward, and presently but half the
distance separated us, whilst they were still some thirty yards from
their goal.

Then his two bravos faced round to meet me, and one, standing some fifty
paces in ad-vance of the other, levelled his musket and fired. But in
his haste he aimed too high; the bullet carried away my hat, and before
the smoke had cleared I was upon him. I had drawn a pistol from my
holster, but it was not needed; my horse passed over him before he could
save himself from my fearful charge.

In the fast-fading light a second musket barrel shone, and I saw the
second ruffian taking aim at me with not a dozen yards between us. With
the old soldier's instinct I wrenched at the reins till I brought my
horse on to his haunches. It was high time, for simultaneously with my
action the fellow blazed at me, and the scream of pain that broke from
my steed told me that the poor brute had taken the bullet. With a bound
that carried me forward some six paces, the animal sank, quivering, to
the ground. I disengaged my feet from the stirrups as he fell, but the
shock of it sent me rolling on the ground, and the ruffian, seeing me