uld soon have been caught among those desolate sandhills. There
was no real hiding among them. You could see any person among them from
a mile away. I kept on ahead, longing for that wonderful minute when I
could hurry my horse, in the wild rush to Egmont town, the final wild
rush, on the nag's last strength, with my pursuers, now going their
fastest, trailing away behind, as their beasts foundered. The air came
singing past. I heard behind me the patter of the turf sent flying by
Old Blunderbore's hoofs. The excitement of the ride took vigorous hold
on me. I felt on glancing back that I should do it, that I should carry
my message, that the Dutchman should see my mettle, before they stopped
me. They were coming up fast on horses still pretty fresh. I would show
them, I said to myself, what a boy can do on a spent horse.

Old Blunderbore lollopped on. I clapped him on the neck. "Come up, boy!
Up!" I cried. "Egmont--Egmont! Come on, Old Blunderbore!" The good old
fellow shook his head up with a whinny. He could see Egmont. He could
smell the good corn perhaps. I banged him with my cap on the shoulder.
"Up, boy!" I cried. I felt that even if I died, even if I was shot
there, as I sailed along with my King's orders, I should have tasted
life in that wild gallop.

A countryman carrying a sack put down his load to stare at me, for
now, with only a mile to go, I was going a brave gait, as fast as Old
Blunderbore could manage. I saw the man put up his hands in pretended
terror. The next instant he was far behind, wondering no doubt why the
charging squadron beyond were galloping after a boy. Now we were rushing
at our full speed, with half a mile, a quarter of a mile, two hundred
yards to the town gates. Carts drew to one side, hearing the clatter. I
shouted to drive away the children. Poultry scattered as though the king
of the foxes was abroad. After me came the thundering clatter of the
pursuit. I could hear distant shouts. The nearest man there was a
quarter of a mile away. A man started out to catch my rein, thinking
that my horse had run away with me. I banged him in the face with my cap
as I swung past him. In another second, as it seemed, I was pulled up
inside the gates.

As far as I remember,--but it is all rather blurred now,--the place
where I pulled up was a sort of public square. I swung myself off Old
Blunderbore just outside a tavern. An ostler ran up to me at once to
hold him. So I gave him a silver piece wh