As far as they could see, the cavalry behind them did not quicken their pace, which showed that they were on some ordinary duty and not, as Desmond at first supposed, in pursuit of them, some peasant having, perhaps, taken word that an officer and soldier in strange uniform had been seen riding round the town.

They therefore took matters quietly, and indeed, sometimes the road was so steep that it would have been impossible for the horses to go beyond a quick walk.
Suddenly, on reaching the crest of the rise, they saw, at a distance of a hundred yards ahead of them, a party of officers, followed by an escort of dragoons.
"We are caught this time, Mike!" Desmond exclaimed.

"Escape is impossible.

I will ride straight up and surrender.

Fortunately they are English uniforms, so we are certain to get fair treatment, which we could not be sure of, had they been Portuguese." So saying, he rode forward at a trot.