Page 126 - A Hero of Liége

"The regiment has come up, I fancy," said Kenneth. "Very likely some of
them will ride round the wood. We're in a tight corner, Remi."

"Hurry on, man. Our one chance is to be first out."

From the continual diminution of the sounds it was plain that the Uhlans
were moving with great caution. No doubt they feared an enemy in every

bush. The fugitives, on the other hand, pressed on as fast as they could,
guarding against a circular course by means of the small compass which

Pariset wore in a strap on his wrist.

After a quarter of an hour's hot exertion they came suddenly to the farther

edge of the wood. The country immediately in front was open and level,
dotted about with single trees and small clumps. In the distance they saw a

farmhouse, and still farther away, a picturesque chateau on the side of a
hill.

"Shall we make a run for it?" said Kenneth, as they paused a moment
before leaving the shelter of the trees.

For answer, Pariset caught him by the sleeve, and drew him back.

"Cut off?" asked Kenneth.

"Yes; a troop of Uhlans are galloping along the edge of the wood away
there to the left; nearly a mile away, thank goodness!"

"Fairly trapped!" said Kenneth, with nervous twitching of his eyebrow.

In the excitement of the last half hour their thoughts had been too busy to
give them time for apprehension. But now, with Uhlans on foot spread out
in the wood behind them, a troop on horseback approaching on their left,

possibly another on their right, they began to realise what it was like to be
hunted. They felt as if inexorable walls were closing upon them to crush

them. It would be madness to take to the open. The impulse to turn to the
right in the wood, away from the galloping Uhlans, was dulled by the fear