The enemy must have been overtaken, but for the express.

Under such circumstances it seems strange that Tarleton should show such singular deference to the express as to forbear the blow, when his sabre was already uplifted, and one of his most troublesome enemies was actually beneath it.

It is scarcely possible that, with his dragoons so close on the heels of the fugitives and informed by prisoners of the proximity of his foe, he should not have heard that he was finally posted and in waiting for him.

We will suppose, however, that he did not.

He turned the head of his column at the very moment when his object was attainable.