Being not more than fifty in number, John judged that they were scouts, and the foaming mouths of their horses showing that they had been ridden hard, confirmed him in the opinion.

They were only fifty or sixty yards from him, and although they were motionless for some time, their eager faces showed that they were waiting for some movement.
It was pure chance, but John happened to be looking at a rather large man who sat his horse easily, his gloved hand resting on his thigh.

He saw distinctly that his face was very ruddy and covered with beads of perspiration.

Then man and horse together fell to the ground as if struck by a bolt of lightning.

The man did not move at all, but the horse kicked for a few moments and lay still.
There was a shout of mingled amazement and horror from the other Uhlans, and it found its echo in John's own mind.