Presently another long, straight bit of road enabled them to see their pursuers again.

The horsemen had been increased in number by the officers who had been riding in the promenade, and were now some twenty in number.
Of these, at least half whose helmets glistening in the sun showed Dick that they were soldiers, had already fallen in the rear, the others had gained upon them considerably.

They were now, however, fully half way to the forest.
"That's right, Jack, keep them going," Dick said, as Jack flogged the animals to their highest speed.

"We shall have plenty of time to get away into the wood before they come up, only for goodness' sake keep us straight." When they reached the forest their pursuers were still some hundreds of yards in the rear.

Checking the horses where the underwood was thickest, the midshipmen leaped out, gave a parting lash to the horses, which started them again at full speed, and then dashed into the thicket.
Any one who had seen them would have been astounded and amused at the spectacle of two fashionably-dressed ladies dashing recklessly through the thick brushwood.