One of the
constables raised his carbine and fired.
CHAPTER IV.
TO THE EDGE OF MARKHAM SWAMP.
'Swish-h-h' went the clumsy slug past Roland's ear. He grasped his
revolver; and the resolution of the moment was to stand at bay and
fight the churls. But the reflection not occupying the hundredth part
of a second showed him that such a course was not to be thought of.
His antagonist had fallen; but this was only _a crime of honour_. To
shoot the Queen's officers would be a vulgar felony. So he kept upon
his course, confident in the mettle of his noble horse, who with
nostrils distended, and neck thrust out, would now lay back one ear
and now another, as if to listen to the progress of the pursuers.
At last our hero reached the road, which lay along a level country
skirted on one side by pine groves, and upon the other by the
recently-harvested fields. Turning in his saddle he perceived that
while he had distanced two of his pursuers, the third, the fellow
with the blunder-buss, was gaining slightly upon him. He noticed also
that the officer was engaged as the horse galloped along in putting
another charge into his weapon.
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