ves were certainly not in it, or they would
have been in full view, unless indeed they had taken refuge in one of
the ruined houses thereabouts. Some of the pirates suggested searching
these before looking elsewhere, while others insisted that they had
overrun the pursuit, and advised going back at once. The whole band
were noisily discussing the pros and cons when Drake and Frobisher
darted past the end of the street; and, seeing the fugitives, the
pirates wheeled their horses and, with a savage whoop, started in
pursuit again.

One circumstance, however, gave the Englishmen a little advantage--
sufficient, indeed, as a matter of fact, to save their lives. While
talking, the horsemen were all bunched together in a little crowd, and
as it happened to be one of the men on the far side of the group who had
been the first to catch sight of the fugitives, he galloped his horse
right through the knot of his companions without a moment's hesitation
or warning, thus throwing the whole company into momentary confusion,
one man being unhorsed, while in another instance horse and rider went
down together. Before the remainder could extricate themselves from the
melde and make a fair start, Drake and Frobisher had obtained a full
fifty yards' lead; and by the time their pursuers had reached the main
street, the fugitives were more than half-way to the palace.

Once on the straight, however, the horsemen had the advantage, and
overhauled them so rapidly that when the Englishmen were still twenty
yards from the palace steps the foremost of the pirates were so close
behind that Frobisher knew they would be cut off unless something could
be done. He therefore gave a warning cry to Drake, and instantly darted
to one side; and as the first man dashed past, unable to rein up his
horse, the Navy man fired point-blank into the animal, bringing it and
its rider to the earth with a tremendous thud. Drake accounted for the
next two men in quick succession, while Frobisher dropped a fourth;
then, the others having reined up, the better to use their rifles, the
two men took to their heels again and reached the long and broad flight
of steps leading up to the palace entrance in the midst of a hail of
bullets, none of which, fortunately, took effect.

The pirates wasted no time in reloading, but came on again to the foot
of the steps. Here they were of course obliged to dismount, and some
handed over their horses to others of their numbe