Officers shouted orders to men, and men shouted to one another.

Several shots were fired, apparently at imaginary objects in the bushes.
"While they're running about and bumping into one another we'll regain a little of our lost breath which we'll need badly later," said Obed.

"We can watch from here, and when they begin to approach then it's up and away again." Those were precious minutes.

The ground was not good for the lancers who usually advanced in mass, and, after the fall of one man and the wounding of another, the soldiers on foot were not very zealous in searching the thickets.

The breathing of the two fugitives became easy and regular once more.