"Hey! Let's get away from here."
He dug his heels into his horse's ribs and dashed through the others.
"Spread out!" ordered Hal. "We make too good a mark this way."
The others obeyed this order, Ivan still keeping close behind Nicolas, and then Hal commanded:
"Forward!"
They went forward at a rapid gallop. The pursuers gave chase with wild yells, firing wildly as they did so.
CHAPTER XIII.
A SAD LOSS.
The leader of the flight was Anthony Stubbs. He had covered considerable distance when the others started and was now well in advance. The little man's heels continued to dig at the ribs of the horse he bestrode, and the animal, snorting and with ears laid back, covered the ground in great bounds.
Hal and Chester, riding close to each other, kept an eye on the others; and after they had ridden perhaps half a mile, they perceived that Nicolas and Ivan were lagging behind.