CHAPTER IV.
BROKEN DOWN.
They ran at the top of their speed, but the sound of the horses' feet grew louder.
"There is a path leading to the river," Ned said; "let us turn down there; we can hide under the jungle on the bank."
Breathlessly they ran down to the river.
"Hurrah! here is a boat, jump in;" and in another minute they had pushed off from the bank, just as they heard a body of cavalry—for that they were troops they knew by the jingling of their accouterments—pass at a gallop. The stream was strong, and the boys found that with the rude oars they could make no way whatever.
"We had better land again and get further from the river," Ned said. "We will push the boat off, and it will be supposed that we have gone off in it."
This was soon done, and having regained the road, they crossed it and struck over the fields. The moon, which had been hitherto hidden under a passing cloud, was soon out fully, and for some time they kept across the country, carefully avoiding all villages. These were here more thinly scattered; patches of jungle and wood occurred more frequently; and it was evident that they were getting into a less highly cultivated district. It was long before daybreak that Rose declared that she was too fatigued to go further, and they entered a large wood. Here they lay down and were soon fast
