It was a risk that he must take.
The shouts grew louder.

The rapid thudding of hoofs behind him beat on his ears in that minute of excitement like thunder.

Nearer and nearer came the forest.

The rifles behind him were now crashing faster.
It seemed to him that he could almost smell their smoke, and still neither he nor his horse was hit.

After making all due allowance for badness of aim at a gallop, it was almost a miracle, and he drew new courage from the fact.
He passed the cornfields and with a sharp jerk of the reins turned his weary horse into the woods on the right.