Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/63

Rh but a glance to read it, and then we dashed at full speed for the castle. We had gone but a few rods when we saw the Ferrers men on the crest of a little knoll, and they must have seen us at the same moment for we heard the beating of their horses' hoofs. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, the foremost pursuers turned again, and raced back to the others"

"Yes, my lady," said Hugh, smiling, "that was when I made a rear attack. Nothing like an unexpected enemy at your back to take the heart out of a charge. I yelled as if I were leading twenty good horsemen at least. But it was only a feint, and could delay them but a few moments."

"Those moments were golden for us," Edgar broke in, "for I knew a cross-cut over a field, while they, not seeing us shorten the road, went by the beaten track. Thus we even increased our lead over them."

"And yet it was a narrow escape," Amabel said. "We were, as you know, some three or four miles from the castle, and they drove their horses like fiends. So did we. The falconer and I led the van—being in retreat, while Edgar, having his spear, made up the rear guard. At first we were afraid they had bows, and might shoot at the horses, if not at ourselves; but when we saw it was to be only a contest of speed, we were less