I had just time to turn this and vault on one of the three horses, when the window was flung open and the leader of the band sprang on to the casement.
But he was too late; for before he could level his musket at me, I was twenty yards away at a gallop, leading by the bridle the two spare horses which had stood at the door beside the one I rode.
The shot, badly aimed, whistled past my ear, and served to urge on the horses to a wilder pace, so that, before even the party was outside, hallooing after me, I was a furlong off, plunging deep into the wood.
I had no time to think if I had done well or ill, or what the upshot of it all was like to be.

Time enough for that when I had won clear.

The led horses, after their first fright, jibbed at the reins and struggled to get free.

So, as they checked my speed, I let them go, and saw them plunge away among the trees, no easy capture for their lawful owners.
Meanwhile, I dashed forward whithersoever the horse took me.

I remember, even amid my panic, what a delight it was to sit astride of so noble a beast, who seemed to scorn my weight, and skim the earth as lightly as if he carried a child.