“There is our man!” exclaimed the corporal. “Keep your eyes open, and gallop after him!”
They spurred their horses, and hastened to the spot where Gaston had jumped from the wall.
On a wooded piece of ground, even if it be hilly, an agile man, if he preserves his presence of mind, can escape a number of horsemen. The ground on this side of the park was favorable to Gaston. He found himself in an immense madder-field; and, as is well known, as this valuable root must remain in the ground three years, the furrows are necessarily ploughed very deep. Horses cannot even walk over its uneven surface; indeed, they can scarcely stand steadily upon it.
This circumstance brought the gendarmes to a dead halt.
Four rash hussars ventured in the field, but they and their beasts were soon rolling between hillocks.
Jumping from ridge to ridge, Gaston soon reached a large field, freshly ploughed, and planted with young chestnuts.
As his chances of escape increased, the excitement grew more intense. The pursuers urged each other on, and called out to head him off, every time they saw Gaston run from one clump of trees to another.
Being familiar with the country, young De Clameran was confident of eluding his pursuers. He knew that the next field was a thistle-field, and was separated from the chestnut by a long, deep ditch.
He resolved to jump into this ditch, run along the bottom, and climb out at the farther end, while they were looking for him among the trees.
But he had forgotten the swelling of the river. Upon reaching the ditch, he found it full of water.