For a few moments Carlton remained silent, measuring with a practised eye the distance between those advancing and the spot on which they stood.  For himself he had not a single thought, but for her in whom his whole soul was bound, the thought of what would be her fate, should she fall into the hands of those who he well knew were bent on their capture, it was this agonizing thought that caused a convulsive shudder to run through his whole frame, and rendered him for the moment speechless.  But it was only for a moment; his deep love for the beautiful being at his side, and her imminent peril, roused him to immediate action.

“It would be wrong for me to attempt to conceal the fact of the great danger in which we stand.  Our pursuers are irregular troops; men who have been taught to hate everything Christian, being the followers of petty Rajahs, who for some act of their own, or some of their families’ treachery or disloyalty to our Government, lost their landed possessions, and consequently their revenue and power; but, dearest, they shall only reach you over my dead body.  They would, in the long run, overtake us; but could we reach a wooden bridge that crosses a small river, a few miles up the road, I believe we could yet elude them.  For there is an old road leading from the ford and running parallel with the one we are on.  It has not been used for the past two years, and they, being strangers in this part of the country, will, in all probability, know nothing of it, and by this way we may escape.  Courage, dearest Edith, all may yet go well with us.”

“Your love and devotion, dear Arthur, I have never for one moment doubted, and confidently trust myself to your protecting arm and loving heart.  But what can one single arm do against numbers; but should those wretches overtake us, the spirit of the Effinghams will teach me how to act, and, if necessary, how to die.”  As she said this, she drew from the folds of her riding habit, a handsome five-chambered revolver.  “I will never become their prey, nor shall you perish unavenged while I have strength to draw a trigger,” exclaimed the beautiful girl, now excited beyond measure at the critical position in which she found herself placed.  “Brave and noble girl,” responded Arthur, as he bent over and imprinted a kiss on the lovely brow.  And in another moment they were bounding along the high road at a hand gallop.

“We are gaining on them,” shouted one of the pursuers, as he caught sight of the two lovers flying along a straight piece of road at no very great distance in front of them.  “But we shall have some tough work before we capture the young fellow or I am much mistaken.”

“Curse him,” growled out a tall athletic fellow in the uniform of a Russeldah.  “I may thank him for my court martial and loss of commission in the regulars; but my turn is coming now.  He and his dainty lady shall curse the hour of their birth before I have done with them.  ‘Remember,’ said he, turning to the party, of whom he was evidently the leader, ’they must, if possible, be taken alive.  Their money and valuables—­and, doubtless, they have a good store about them—­you can divide among yourselves; I will not touch one rupee of it; but their lives are mine.”  A shout of approval followed this last speech, and the whole party pushed forward with increased speed.