And while it was certain that they could follow him in and catch him if he stayed in the brush, he would delay them at least, and the Russians were so near that they might hear the firing and come up.
That came about even sooner than he had thought possible.

He stopped, panting.

The Uhlans were close on his trail by this time, and he heard them coming up.

But then came a sudden shouting of orders, and, a moment later, a furious fusillade that was answered from the Russian side.

Over the rattle of the firing, too, came a sound he remembered well, though he had heard it only once before--the yelling of charging Cossacks.