The cuirassiers did not reach the mill in a body, having become greatly scattered in the course of their hot pursuit. Otto Palvicz, however, was in the lead, his full-blooded stallion being best able to stand the strain of the twenty hours' continuous chase. With him were but a score of his men, and there was no telling how long the others might be in joining him; yet he spurred his horse on as if he would have crossed the burning bridge. The animal, however, would not be driven into the fire.
"Captain Richard Baradlay!" shouted Palvicz.
"Here I am, Major Otto Palvicz," came back the answer.
"Surrender yourself my prisoner!"
"Come over and get me!"
"I will, all in good time, you may depend upon it."
"But not to-night."
"Yes, to-night. I sha'n't halt till I have caught you."
"But you can't cross the broken dike."
"It won't delay us more than an hour. By that time we shall be across and at your heels again. You can't escape me."