Although hardy and of great endurance, the Mahratta horses, which were small in size, were not accustomed to being put to the top of their speed except for a short charge; and the five miles that they had galloped already must have, to some extent, fatigued them.
After running at the top of his speed for about a mile, he looked back.

The party was still a long distance in his rear.

Again he pressed forward, but his exertions were telling upon him and, before he had gone another half mile, the Mahrattas had approached within little more than half that distance.
Far ahead he thought he could perceive a body of horsemen, but these were nearly two miles away, and he would be overtaken before they could reach him; therefore he turned suddenly off, and took to one of the little banks dividing one irrigated field from another.
As soon as the horsemen reached the spot where he had left the road, they too turned off; but Harry, who was now husbanding his strength, saw a sudden confusion among them.
The little bank of earth on which he was running was but a foot wide, and was softened by the water which soaked in from both sides.

It could bear his weight, well enough; but not that of a mounted man.

Only one or two had attempted to follow it, the others had plunged into the field.