some miles till we came to the foot of a steep hill, which, I remembered, was as long as it was steep. The horses charged at it in the same gallant, desperate way, but our pursuers had now gained on us and were closing up fast.
They had not fired another volley, and though at first I wondered at this, and could not guess the cause I was soon to learn it. When we turned in the direction of Liublian they knew that we could not escape them, and were content to ride us down or wait till we ran against some other body of troops. The hill now helped them, for the wild pace had distressed my horses until they began to falter at the steep ascent, breathing hard. I flogged them unmercifully; I would have every yard out of them that was to be got, because it meant a yard longer start for Christina; but my heart was sore for the brutes, for they had made a valiant effort.
Before we reached the crest of the hill the troops were up with us, and the leader, pointing ahead, called to me to surrender.
"You had better give up the struggle, Count Benderoff," he said, riding abreast of me. "We have another body of men at the top there."
But I was fighting for yards, and my answer was to cut the horses desperately with the whip, so that they sprang forward again with a last frantic effort. The man rode to the nearest horse, and, drawing his revolver, placed it close to the animal's head.
"I shall be sorry to fire, but if you don't stop I shall have no alternative," he called.
"Shall we yield?" I said, turning to the little Broumoff, who had maintained her seat unflinchingly, and pretending to consult her, while I whispered, "Keep your face well concealed."
