They will hardly overtake us ere we get there, seeing how swampy is the ground below." At a slinging trot the party ran forward, and soon gained the lower ground.

They were halfway across when they saw a large body of horsemen following in pursuit.
"A little to the right, Sir William," Archie said; "you see that coat flying from an oar; there is the boat." As Archie had expected, the swampy ground impeded the speed of the horsemen.

In vain the riders spurred and shouted, the horses, fetlock deep, could make but slow advance, and before they reached the bank the fugitives had gained the boat and were already halfway across the stream.

Then the English had the mortification of seeing them land and march away quietly on the other side..