"They fired at us."
"They did," replied Tiro. "Damn them!"
"But why?"
"My uniform—devilry—running man—good fun, you know—for them."
"We must go on," said Savrola.
"We can't go on across the square."
"Which way, then?"
"We must work down the street away from them, keeping the statue between us and their fire, and get up one of the streets to the left."
A main street ran through the centre of the great square, and led out of it at right angles to the direction in which they were proceeding. It was possible to retire down this under cover of the statue, and to take a parallel street further along. This would enable them to avoid the fire from the entrenchment, or would at least reduce the dangerous space to a few yards. Savrola looked in the direction Tiro indicated. "Surely this is shorter," he said pointing across the square.
"Much shorter," answered the Subaltern; "in about three seconds it will take you to another world."