Kate's arm was soon bandaged up, and a handkerchief tied round Dick's face. Ned proposed that for Kate's sake they should make a halt at the first wood they came to, but Kate would not hear of it. "On the contrary, Ned, we ought to press forward as hard as we can, for it is very possible that at that village where we were recognized--I suppose because they had heard about the horses--they may have dispatched people to the main road, as well as further on to stop us here; and we may be pursued at any moment, if there happens to be any native cavalry upon the road. Evidently they are very much in earnest about catching us, and have sent word to look after four people on two horses all over the country, or they could not have known about it at the village yesterday evening." "I am afraid you are right, Kate; if we could turn off this road I should not fear, but the river cannot be far to our right, and the main road is to our left. There is nothing for it but to press straight on. Fortunately, the country is not thickly populated, and there is a good deal of jungle. If the worst comes to the worst, we must leave our horses and go on foot again. I fear that is more fatiguing for you, but we can hide ourselves a good deal better." It was late in the afternoon when Rose cried. "They are coming, Ned; there is a party of cavalry behind!" Ned looked round; and far back, along the straight road, he saw a body of horsemen. "They are a long distance behind," he said; "now for a race!" The boys plied their sticks, and the horses sprang on at full gallop. "How much are they gaining, Rose?" he asked, after twenty minutes' hard riding. "They are nearer, Ned--a good deal nearer; but they have not gained half their distance yet." "The sun set fully ten minutes ago," Ned said; "in another half-hour it will be dark. Their horses must be done up, or they would gain faster on us, as ours have to carry double, and are getting terribly blown; but there is a wood, which looks a large one, a couple of miles ahead. If we can get there five minutes before them, we are safe." By dint of flogging their horses they entered the wood while their pursuers were half a mile behind. "Another hundred yards," Ned said, "and then halt. Now, off we get." In an instant they leaped off, and gave a couple of sharp blows with their sticks to the horses, who dashed off at a gallop down the road. It was already perfectly dark in the wood, and the fugitives hurried into the thickest part. In five minutes they heard the cavalry come thundering past. "We must push on," Ned said; "fortunately, we have done no walking, for we must be far away by to-morrow morning. They will come up with the horses before very long, and will know we are in the wood, and they will search it through and through in the morning." A quarter of a mile, and the wood grew thicker, being filled with an undergrowth of jungle.