copettes. After a short while our faces gradually sank behind the
crest of the ridge, until nothing but our forage-caps appeared above the
sward. We lay thus for some moments, showing a face or two at
intervals. Our time was precious, and we could not perform the
pantomime to perfection; but we were not dealing with Comanches, and for
"Don Diego" it was sufficiently artistical.

Presently we slipped our heads one by one out of their covers, leaving
the five caps upon the grass inclining to each other in the most natural
positions. We then stole back lizard-fashion, and, after sprawling a
hundred yards or so, rose to our feet and ran like scared dogs. We
could tell that we had duped the party below, as we heard them firing
away at our empty caps long after we had left the scene of our late
adventure.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

A COUP D'ECLAIR.

Many an uneasy look was thrown over our shoulders as we struggled down
that slope. Our strength was urged to its utmost; and this was not
much, for we had all lost blood in our encounter with the sleuth-hounds,
and felt weak and faint.

We were baffled, too, by a storm--a fierce, tropical storm. The rain,
thick and heavy, plashed in our faces, and made the ground slippery
under our feet. The lightning flashed in our eyes, and the electric
sulphur shortened our breathing. Still we coughed and panted and
staggered onward, nerved by the knowledge that death was behind us.

I shall never forget that fearful race. I thought it would never end.
I can only liken it to one of those dreams in which we are always making
endeavours to escape from some horrible monster, and are as often
hindered by a strange and mysterious helplessness. I remember it now as
then. I have often repeated that flight in my sleep, and always awoke
with a feeling of shuddering horror.

We had got within five hundred yards of the timber. Five hundred yards
is not much to a fresh runner; but to us, toiling along at a trot that
much more resembled a walk, it seemed an infinity. A small prairie,
with a stream beyond, separated us from the edge of the woods--a smooth
sward without a single tree. We had entered upon it--Raoul, who was
light of foot, being in the advance, while Lincoln from choice hung in
the rear.

An exclamation from the hunter caused us to look back. We were too much
fatigued and worn out to be frightened at the sight. Along the crest of
the hill a hundred horsemen were dashin