They were crossing on a bridge of boats." "You are dusty and you look very worn.

Did you come in contact with the enemy ?" "Yes, sir.

Many of their horsemen were already on this side of the river, and this morning I was pressed very hard by a troop of their cavalry.

I gained a wood, but just at the edge of it my horse was killed by a chance shot." "Your horse killed?
Then how could you escape from cavalry ?" "Chance favored me, sir.

I dodged them for a while in the woods and underbrush, helped by gullies here and there, and when I came to the edge of the wood only a single horseman was near me.