We heard the sound of shouts.

Higgs's white helmet reappeared, and then his body, with two Fung guards clinging on to him.

He yelled out in English and the words reached us faintly: "Save yourself! I'll hold these devils.

Run, you infernal fool, run!" Oliver hesitated, although the Mountaineer was pulling at him, till the heads of more Fung appeared.

Then, with a gesture of despair, he turned and fled.