But not so, Mike held firmly on, and spurring madly, he lifted his horse at each stride, turning from time to time a glance at his pursuer.

A shout of triumph rose from the French side; tin; trumpeter was beside him; his arm was uplifted; the sabre above his head.

A yell broke from the British, and with difficulty could the squadron be restrained.

For above a minute the horses went side by side, but the Frenchman delayed his stroke until he could get a little in the front.

My excitement had rendered me speechless; if a word could have saved my poor fellow, I could not have spoken.