By this manoeuvre he placed himself in
advance of the now approaching banditti. Driving his spurs resolutely
and unsparingly into the flanks of his horse, while encouraging him with
well known words of cheer, he rushed over the scene of his late struggle
with a velocity that set all restraint at defiance--his late opponent
scarcely being able to put himself in safety. A couple of shots, that
whistled wide of the mark, announced his extrication from the
difficulty--but, to his surprise, his enemies had been at work behind
him, and the edge of the copse through which he was about to pass, was
blockaded with bars in like manner with the path in front. He heard the
shouts of the ruffians in the rear--he felt the danger, if not
impracticability of his pausing for the removal of the rails, and, in
the spirit which had heretofore marked his conduct, he determined upon
the most daring endeavor. Throwing off all restraint from his steed, and
fixing himself firmly in the stirrup and saddle, he plunged onward to
the leap, and, to the chagrin of the pursuers, who had relied much upon
the obstruction, and who now appeared in pursuit, the noble animal,
without a moment's reluctance, cleared it handsomely.
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