All thought of fear of discovery had vanished.

My brain throbbed, my blood ran hot--only one thing upon earth seemed worth living for, and that was to overtake this infernal fox.

I passed one of the horsemen--a Hussar like myself.
There were only two in front of me now: the one in a black coat, the other the blue artilleryman whom I had seen at the inn.

His grey whiskers streamed in the wind, but he rode magnificently.

For a mile or more we kept in this order, and then, as we galloped up a steep slope, my lighter weight brought me to the front.