I nearly had cause to rue forever that miscalculation, for while still extending the packet with one hand, with the other he reached down with astonishing quickness, drew my other pistol from the holster, and pulled the trigger. Our horses were both in motion at the time. My only salvation was to fire upon him, and, even as the weapon which he had seized spoke, so did mine. I felt a sharp, agonising pain in my left shoulder. I knew that I had been hit; how seriously I could not tell, nor could I give much thought to my condition, for my interest was in him. Fortune had favoured me, for as I stared, my left arm dangling, Sir Hugh threw up his hands, his face went white; I could see a red smudge on his forehead. He reeled in his saddle, fell back, slipped sideways, and slid down to the road. Both horses were in a great state of excitement. Sir Hugh's foot was still in the stirrup. I had managed to control mine by a word; his own horse started off. Sir Hugh would have been dragged and battered to pieces in a few bounds. I barred the way and, with my right hand, I caught his horse's bridle and brought the well-trained animal instantly to a stop. I found that, although my coat-sleeve was stained with blood, I could still move my arm, which rather convinced me that my wound was a flesh wound of the shoulder and nor serious. Therefore I dismounted, stepped over to Sir Hugh, disengaged his foot from the stirrup, and tore the packet from his hand. His forehead and the side of his face were covered with blood. He was still breathing. Recklessly, I tore off a ruffle from my sleeve and strove to stanch the blood. I expected to see a round hole in the skull. There was nothing there, however, but a deep gash that extended sideways along the temple. I was not skilled in gunshot wounds, but I realised instantly that he was not mortally hurt, and I was never more fervently thankful in all my life than for that. As soon as I saw what had happened, I took my lace and linen tie and rapidly bandaged the soldier's head. Then, as I knew I must get away for my life, I mounted my horse again, and, having first taken the precaution to detach from its straps a little despatch-bag that hung from the pommel of the saddle, I turned his horse's head back toward the inn and gave it a hearty stroke or two with my hand to set it galloping away. Thereupon, with a final and reluctant glance at the poor prostrate soldier, I put spurs to my own horse and galloped madly down the road, feverishly anxious to get away. --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Illustration: As soon as I saw what...] _As soon as I saw what had happened, I took my lace and linen tie and rapidly bandaged the soldier's head. Then I knew I must get away for my life_ ---------------------------------------------------------------------