"They can scarcely see us, and we shall soon be out of sight altogether." Five or six more shots were fired a few seconds later, as the men from the guard house reached the gate.

On looking back, when they had gone another hundred yards, they saw a number of figures on the road.
"Not quite so fast, Surajah," Dick said.

"It is going to be a long chase, now.

We have got three hundred yards start, and they won't be able to load again, running at full speed." For a time, their pursuers gained somewhat upon them; then, gradually, they began to straggle, as the effect of the speed at which they were running told upon them.

When they reached the ruined village, there were four men running together, some three hundred yards behind.