But the young men fled at first on the beasts they had taken; and at last, when these were exhausted with their long gallop, took to flight on foot.

They were all but caught, when a river saved them.

For they crossed a bridge, of which, in order to delay the pursuer, they first cut the timbers down to the middle, thus making it not only unequal to a burden, but ready to come down; then they retreated into a dense morass.
The Sclavs pressed on them hard and, not forseeing the danger, unwarily put the weight of their horses on the bridge; the flooring sank, and they were shaken off and flung into the river.

But, as they swam up to the bank, they were met by Gunn and Jarmerik, and either drowned or slain.

Thus the young men showed great cunning, and did a deed beyond their years, being more like sagacious old men than runaway slaves, and successfully achieving their shrewd design.