Riding furiously with short stirrups, and in that wild and tumultuous fashion peculiar to the Croatian troopers, we succeeded in deceiving and passing two advanced sentinels; and on making a circuit of the little valley, we got between the scattered horses and the guard which protected them.
'Now, gentlemen, now is our time to drive the prey!' said I, in a loud whisper.
'Hah, Viscount,' cried Home, whose eyes flashed with excitement, ''tis a touch of the old times this!'
'True, Sir Quentin,' added young Scott of Tushielaw; 'and in gude faith, sirs, I could almost fancy this hollow a scroggy glen on the southern slope of the Cheviots; yonder gorge, by which we have come, the Pass of Carter-bar; and all these Austrian nags, a herd of well-fed English kye.'
'Hush, sirs,' said I; 'be wary, be wary, and remember my directions.'
'Of course,' said Dundrennan; 'I never trust horses or women, as both are apt to grow skittish on occasions; so wary we must be.'
'Let us scatter now,' said I; 'and when I fire a pistol, dash on and drive the prey.'
'Bravo!'
'Hurrah!'
'Vivat Rex!' were the exclamations of my six reckless comrades, all of whom were well acquainted with what they had to do, and drew off about twenty yards from each other. The moment I fired my pistol, an immediate commotion took place among the horses; all those that were lying on the ground sprang to their feet; and all that were grazing lifted their heads, pricked up their ears, and prepared to fly from the direction in which the sound came.