ctacle before him. "Starboard your helm, or you'll be
over the padre."

Gerald did try to pull up with might and main, but it was too late, his
steed stumbled, shooting him as from a catapult, right on the top--not
of a humble padre, but of a bishop of the holy Roman Empire, when his
floundering steed upsetting the leading bearer, bishop and midshipman
rolled over together, the former shouting for help, the latter
apologising. The matter did not stop here. Though Adair managed to
clear the bishop, after knocking over one of his lordship's footmen, his
steed bolted into the midst of the cavaliers behind, coming full tilt,
as ill-luck would have it, against Commander Babbicome of the _Tudor_,
who, in spite of his boasted horsemanship, was incontinently capsized,
while, before he could recover himself, or his companions rescue him,
down came thundering on them the rest of the hilarious cavalcade.
Several of the riders, including Tom, attempting to rein in their
animals, were sent flying over the prostrate bishop, among the foremost
ranks of the party ascending the mountain, while the rest dashing on
overthrew the military governor and several other personages of
distinction, till Jack, who had from the first reined in his steed, and
was behind the rest, could see nothing but a confused mass of kicking
legs, and cocked hats, and naval caps, and here and there heads and
backs and arms, with a shaven crown in their midst, blocking up the
narrow roadway, shouts, cries, shrieks and execrations issuing from
among them. The liberated horses had dashed on, leaving their riders to
their fate. This contributed considerably to lessen the difficulties of
the case. The drivers coming up, Jack dismounted, and giving his horse
to one of them ran to assist the bishop and his fallen friends. The
midshipmen quickly picked themselves up, very much frightened at what
they had done, but not a bit the worse for their tumble. The
ecclesiastic was next placed on his legs, with robes somewhat rumpled,
but happily without contusions or bones broken, though dreadfully
alarmed and inclined to be somewhat angry at the indignity he had
suffered. Jack endeavoured to apologise with the few words of
Portuguese he could command, Tom and Gerald assisting him to the best of
their power, though their united vocabulary failed to convey their
sentiments. Meantime, the dismounted cavaliers behind had regained
their saddles, as had the gunroom officers