I could not find the stirrups, but I dug my heels into his sides, and he leaped forward.
At the same moment Laputa began to shoot.

It was a foolish move, for he might have caught me by running, since I had neither spurs nor whip, and the horse was hampered by the loose end of rope at his knee.

In any case, being an indifferent shot, he should have aimed at the Schimmel, not at me; but I suppose he wished to save his charger.

One bullet sang past my head; a second did my business for me.

It passed over my shoulder, as I lay low in the saddle, and grazed the beast's right ear.