back," said
Roy at last.

Thanking the lieutenant, they again mounted. Just as they got outside
the house they heard the sound of homes' hoofs.

"Don't fire!" cried the officer to his men. "These must be friends."

In another moment two horsemen were seen coming along the road, and
Gerald, dashing forward, shouted out, "Hurrah! Why, it's Tom Rogers and
Billy Blueblazes!"

Gerald was not mistaken, although their friends could scarcely be
distinguished from the masses of mud which covered them and their
steeds. Tom and Billy having received the congratulations of the party,
and being introduced to the lieutenant, explained that finding the
Tae-pings gaining upon them, they had leaped over a ditch bordered by
trees, which concealed them from the view of their pursuers, and that
they had then galloped along over the soft ground, having to scramble
through a number of ditches, which were too wide to leap, until they,
once more catching sight of the lights in the village, made their way
back to the road.

As Tom and Billy were wet through, they declined to do more than stop
and take a cup of hot tea, and the whole party then galloped on, as fast
as their tired steeds could go, to the town, and managed to find their
way back to the stable from which they had hired the horses.

The old man examined them with his lantern, exhibiting a rueful
countenance, and shaking his head, muttering as he did so, "No good, no
good!"

Tom tried to explain that if they had not ridden hard, he would never
again have seen his horses; but probably the midshipman's explanations
were not understood, as the owner of the animals still kept muttering,
"No good, no good!"

"Well, as it was partly our fault for delaying so long, I propose that
we pay the old fellow something more," said Tom.

All agreed, and: Mr Kay Chung's countenance brightened greatly when
they handed him some more coin. On their way back they met several of
the English inhabitants, to whom they reported that a force of Tae-pings
was in the neighbourhood. Their news created no small amount of stir in
the place. Information had already been received at head-quarters from
the outposts, and immediately active preparations were made for the
defence of the town, lest the enemy should advance during the night.
Pretty well tired out, the midshipmen at last got back to the hotel
where they settled to remain for the night, as it was too late by that
time to return on board.