It was succeeded by a silence solemn and profound; and then, by a murmuring indicative of some surprise—sudden as that which had called forth the shout, but of a less pleasant nature.
No one asked the cause of that silence; though all were inquiring the cause of what had caused it.
The astonishment of the spectators had sprung from the behaviour of the black horseman—which at the crisis appeared singular. Having reached the central point of the bridge, instead of continuing his course, he was seen suddenly to rein up—and with such violence, as to bring his horse back upon his haunches, till his sweeping tail lay scattered over the causeway! The movement was instantly followed by another. The horse, having regained an erect attitude, was seen to head, first in one direction, then into another—as if his rider was still undecided which course he should take.
The spectators at first thought it was some fault of the animal; that he had baulked at some obstacle, and become restive.
In a few seconds they were undeceived; and the true cause of this interruption to the flight of the fugitive became apparent to all—in the waving plumes and glittering helmets that appeared beyond, rising above the cope-stones of the parapet.
Another troop of cuirassiers—larger than the first—was coming along the road in the direction of the bridge. It was Scarthe, and his squadron!
Already had the foremost files readied the termination of the parapet walls; and were advancing at a trot towards the centre of the arch. In that direction Holtspur’s retreat was cut off—as completely as if he had entered within a cul de sac.
He saw it, and had turned to ride back; but by this time the troopers who accompanied Stubbs, stirred to energetic action by the trick played upon them, had recovered their reins, and were making all haste to pursue the prisoner. The corporal who commanded them—for the cornet still lay senseless upon the road—had succeeded in getting them into some sort of a forward movement; and they were now advancing in all haste towards the bridge.
For a moment the black horseman appeared undecided how to act. To gallop in either direction was to rush upon certain death, or certain capture. On each side was a troop of cuirassiers with drawn sabres, and carbines ready to be discharged; while the space between the two squadrons was shut in—partly by the parapet walls of the bridge, and partly by the palings that continued them.
For a man unarmed, however well mounted, to run the gauntlet, in either direction, was plainly an impossibility; and would only have been attempted by one reckless of life, and determined to throw it away.