"so that they may fall straight. The biggest you must roll over
with your levers, but work them to the edge and let them topple
over; don't thrust them out or they will bound over the road. Now!"

Twenty rocks were dropped down together. Even above the din of
shouting the crash as they fell below was heard, followed instantly
by yells and cries.

"Move farther on and give them another shower," Hector said; and
again the rocks fell on the crowded causeway. The first volley had
caused a pause -- numbers had been crushed, many of the stones as
they rolled down the road had carried confusion to those below;
the second volley completed their discomfiture. Appalled by a
discharge against which they had no shelter and which was wholly
unexpected, those near whom the stones had fallen turned, and in
their panic swept those below them on the road down into the valley,
many being overthrown and trampled to death. Ignorant of what was
going on behind them, the crowd above the spot where the stones
had fallen were still pressing upward, those in front hewing with
their scythes and axes at the pikeheads.

Hector ran back there. "The two rear ranks will now fire!" he said.

The men dropped their pikes, and two volleys of musketry were poured
into the insurgents. Those of the front line were swept away by
the fire, and for a moment the whole recoiled.

"Now, men," Hector shouted, "cross the breastwork and sweep them
away with your pikes!"