to be," cried Gerald.

As they led out their horses, they saw people hurrying off in all
directions across the fields, some scampering along the road they were
about to follow. Behind them, at the further end of the village, came a
confused multitude, but whether fugitives or pursuers they could not
make out. One thing was certain, that if they delayed they would get
into serious trouble, if not lose their lives.

"Mount, mount, and let us be off!" cried Tom. "Here, Billy, I will lend
you a hand," and he lifted up his messmate, whose steed was somewhat
restive, into his saddle; he then leaped on his own. Only a minute was
lost before the midshipmen were all mounted, but that minute was of
consequence.

The cries in their rear grew louder; several shots came whizzing past
their ears.

"On! on!" shouted Tom. "I will bring up the rear," and, giving a whack
to Billy's pony, he drew up for an instant to let the others pass him.
They then altogether galloped on as fast as their steeds could move
their nimble legs. Half-starved as the animals looked, they went at a
good pace. Should their pursuers be on foot, they would very soon be
beyond all danger of being shot. Tom occasionally turned to glance over
his shoulder. Still the people behind, whoever they were, came rushing
on, though as they were distanced they seemed to be more and more
confused, until only a dark-coloured mass could be distinguished.

"We shall soon be beyond their reach," shouted Tom; "it won't do to pull
up until we have distanced them thoroughly." Soon afterwards, as he
looked again, he saw the dark mass divided, when he could distinguish
sword blades flashing in the sun as they waved here and there.

"There are cavalry of some sort after us," he cried out. As far as he
could judge at that distance, the horsemen were engaged in cutting down
the native peasantry, whom they had overtaken unprepared for resistance.

"If we can make our horses go faster, we must do so," cried Tom. "Those
fellows astern mean mischief, and we must keep well ahead, or they will
be trying the sharpness of the sabres on our necks."

The party did not require this exhortation to do their best to make
their steeds move forward faster, urging them on with rein and
reiterated whacks on the back with their sticks. The hoofs of the
animals clattered over the hard ground, sending up clouds of dust. The
day was further advanced than they had supposed, but darkness w