“He eyed me very closely, and said that the passport did not agree with my description, and he should detain me as a rough, dangerous-looking character.
“‘Don’t be quite so clever,’ I said, half annoyed.
“He tried to get hold of my bridle-rein, but I knocked the gate-keeper down with one blow, and started off at a hard gallop.
“‘Stop thief! murder! robbers! thieves,’ shouted the prostrate official, in stentorian lungs.
“The cry was quickly taken up by the rabble of the town, and I thought it best to gallop right off and gain the open country again.
“‘Stop thieves! robbers! murderers! stop him!’ shouted the excited mob, in full cry.
“Onward I galloped through the dirty, narrow streets of the straggling town as hard as possible.
“Once or twice my horse slipped, and fell under me.
“I raised him again.
“But from every hand came stones and dirt and rubbish, which was hurled at me on all sides.