I was grappled by willing hands, but my impetus in running enabled me again and again to burst away, while, to distract attention, I shouted and pointed ahead just as did my pursuers. All this, the reader must conceive, passed with breathless rapidity. It was a confused scene—narrow, gloomy streets, all sparkling with lights as people rushed to doors and balconies, and echoing to the clamour of voices and the tramp of footsteps, as the shouting crowd ran wildly, jostling and tripping each other, and many of them swearing that the English pirates had returned to the attack, and that there was nothing but pillage and murder for Carthagena. Howbeit, in the midst of all this confusion, I could not but be sensible that the man in the shirt-sleeves and his original comrades had not lost sight of me for an instant. Therefore I put forth my utmost speed; plunged from street to street and lane to lane, fearing every moment that I would run into what the French call a _cul-de-sac_; and, indeed, at length, as I emerged from a confused cluster of narrow, winding streets into a more open way lined with high walls, along which I ran, almost spent with toil, and panting for breath, I heard a great shout of triumph behind me, as though I was at length trapped, and looking narrowly ahead, I saw a high wall with iron trellis-work at the top, and over which ran the branches of trees, barring all passage. I was close to the obstacle before I saw it in the dusk, and at the same instant I became sensible of a small wicket-door, which, before I had time to think, opened, and the forms of two ladies, dressed in black, veiled and hooded, with lace and silk capes, stood before me. Hardly knowing what I did, I flung myself on my knees upon the ground. They started back, and the younger, as I judged, uttered a slight scream. ‘Ladies,’ I gasped out, ‘I am an unfortunate Scots sailor; your countrymen pursue me to kill me. Gentle ladies, save my life!’ Just as I said this the footsteps of the Spaniards echoed between the high walls. ‘Where is the English rascal?’ they cried; ‘he shall die the death!’ After a single whispered word, hastily passed between them, one of the ladies bent towards me, started back, came forwards again, and said in my ear, in a timid, fluttering voice: ‘Rise, young man; and pass in.’