This was to his followers, one of whom was limping, and the other bleeding from a cut in the face caused by his fall.
“Will you let go?” cried Hilary hoarsely, but fast regaining his breath.
“There, it’s no use for you to struggle, my boy,” said Allstone. “Murder! Here! Help!”
Hilary had glanced round and taken in his position. Sir Henry was standing holding Adela, who had hidden her face in his breast so as not to see the struggle, while her father made no attempt to interfere. The two men were close up; and as Allstone held him firmly he felt that he was about to be dragged back to his prison like some drowned rat, and he vowed that he would not give up if he died for it.
For Hilary’s blood was now up, and, wrenching himself round, he got hold of the hilt of the cutlass, where it stuck in his belt, dragged it out, and in doing so struck his captor beneath the chin with the pommel.
So sharp was the blow that Allstone quitted his hold, uttering hoarse cries, and staggered back two or three yards, while Hilary drove him farther by making at him as if about to deliver point.
The two injured men, in answer to their leader’s call, now made an attempt to seize Hilary; but their effort was a faint-hearted one, for on the young officer making a dash at them they gave way, and, waving his hand to Sir Henry, he dashed across the road and along a winding lane.
“A set of cowards!” he muttered. “The cutlass would hardly cut butter, and it would want a hammer to drive in its point. Yes; you may shout. You don’t suppose I am coming back?”
He looked over his shoulder, and saw that Allstone and four men were now after him, and that, if he meant to get away, he must use his last remaining strength, for, clumsily as they ran, he was so tired with his recent exertions that they were diminishing the distance fast.
“I wonder how many pounds of water I’ve got to carry?” muttered Hilary, as he ran on, with the moisture still streaming from him, and making a most unpleasant noise in his boots. “There’s one good thing, though,” he said: “it keeps on growing less.”