Here their horses at once sank up to the knees.

Some endeavoured to force the animals on, others to regain the road they had quitted.

The two horsemen on the bank were making better progress, but their horses' hoofs sank deeply in the soft earth; and their pace, in spite of the exertions of the riders, was but a slow one.
Harry turned when he came to the end of the field, and followed another bank at right angles, and was therefore now running in the right direction.

He was more than keeping his lead from the foremost of his pursuers Some of the others galloped along the road, parallel to him, but ahead.
The horsemen he had first seen were now within a mile.

On they came, at the top of their speed; and the troopers on the road halted, not knowing whether this body were friends or foes, while those on the bank reined in their horses, and rode back to join their comrades.