The captain examined the wounded member, which was now bleeding very freely. He tied a handkerchief around the arm, and did the best which the circumstances would admit for his friend. He then led the way down-stairs, where the horses were impatiently waiting for their riders. Jenny was a noble mare, and the orderly's horse was an excellent animal. De Banyan, knowing how much might depend upon the endurance of the horses in the flight before them, filled the bag with corn in the loft, after he had helped Somers to mount the horse of Peters, which appeared to be the steadier beast of the two. The noise of the affray in the loft had probably been heard by some of the occupants of the house; and, just as the fugitives had mounted the horses, a black woman from the dwelling approached the stable. She gazed with astonishment and alarm at the riders, and seemed to be satisfied that all was not right. "Your master is up in the loft," said Somers, as they rode by her. "He is hurt, and wants attention." "Now whip up, Somers. We must make quick time; for we shall have the whole city after us in ten minutes," said De Banyan, as he urged Jenny to the top of her speed. The spirited animal seemed as willing to exert herself for the enemies as the friends of the Southern Confederacy; thus proving that she was a neutral horse, or cherished Union sentiments. But the other horse could not keep pace with her, and De Banyan was compelled to restrain her speed. The fugitives had scarcely appeared in the street before a hue and cry was raised; for the place had been thoroughly aroused by the clamor which the troopers had created. Still, there was nothing in sight which promised to offer any serious resistance to their progress. A few moments brought them to the outskirts of the town; though in what direction, or to what point, the road they had taken would lead them, neither De Banyan nor Somers had the most remote idea. To go in the wrong direction was equivalent to plunging into certain ruin; to go in any direction was hardly less perilous; for the rebel cavalry was out upon every road, intent upon capturing the deserter and the Yankee. As they emerged from the more thickly settled parts of the city, they discovered a negro approaching them. "Where does this road lead to?" demanded De Banyan, reining in his fiery steed. "Prince George's Court House, massa," replied the man. "Wha' for you gwine down dar?" De Banyan was not disposed to answer any unnecessary questions, and again spurred on his horse. "See here, massa!" shouted the negro. "What do you want?" asked De Banyan impatiently; for, being a Southerner himself, he had no particular respect for the negro race. "Don't go down dar, massa." "Why not?" "Git cotched if you do, massa," said the man with an expressive grin. "De sodgers on de horses is down dar arter you." "How do you know they are after us, you black rascal?"