ck by some
other road. In that case by no possibility can they get more than a few
of us."

These orders, which were well calculated to puzzle a concealed enemy,
were carried out. The corporal's party were just disappearing round
a turn at the upper end of the valley when the main body under the
sergeant entered it. Jack was not quite so far behind, and halted as he
entered the valley to allow those who preceded him to get through before
he proceeded. They were still some two hundred yards from the further
end when a shot was heard, and in an instant men appeared from behind
every rock, and the hillside was obscured with smoke as upward of two
hundred guns were fired almost simultaneously. Then there was a deep
rumbling noise, and the rocks came bounding down from above.

The sergeant carried out Jack's orders. At the flash of the first gun
he set off with his men at a gallop; and so quick and sudden was the
movement that but few of the bullets touched them, and the rocks for
the most part thundered down in their rear. Two or three horses and men
were, however, struck down and crushed by the massive rocks; but the
rest of the party got through the pass in safety and joined their
comrades who had preceded them. They rode on for a short distance
further, and then there was a halt, and wounds were examined and
bandaged.

"It is well that we came as we did," the sergeant said to his corporal;
"if we had been all together, with the wagons blocking up the road, not
a man Jack of us would have escaped alive. What an escape it has been!
the whole hillside seemed coming down on us."

"What will Mr. Stilwell do, sergeant?"

"He said he should ride back into the plain and take some other way
round," the sergeant replied; "but I fear he won't find it so easy.
Fellows who would lay such an ambush as that are pretty sure to have
taken steps to cut off the retreat of any who might escape and ride
back. I am sure I hope he will get out of it, for he is a good officer,
and as pleasant a young fellow as one can want to serve under; besides,
there are five of our chaps with him."

Jack had halted his men the instant the first shot was fired. "Shall I
shoot these fellows, sir?" one of the troopers asked, drawing his pistol
and pointing it at the head of one of the peasants leading a yoke of
oxen.

"No," Jack said; "they are unarmed; besides, they are plucky fellows for
risking their lives on such a venture. There! the sergeant's t