If they think we are afraid and our horses tired they will follow us without waiting for the others, and perhaps give us an opportunity of teaching them better manners.

Your horse is the fleetest, senor Fortescue.

You had better, perhaps, ride last." On this hint I acted; and when the four guerillas saw that I was lagging behind they redoubled their efforts to overtake me, but whenever they drew nearer than I liked, I let Pizarro out, thereby keeping their horses, which were none too fresh, continually on the stretch.

The others were too far in the rear to cause us concern.

We had tested the speed of their horses and knew that we could leave them whenever we liked.
After we had gone thus about a couple of miles Carmen slackened speed so as to let me come up with him and Gahra.
"We have five minutes to spare," he said.