fosse. One of MacIntosh's sergeants was put in charge of the ten
men who were to remain at the intrenchment, the castle being left
entirely in the hands of the women and boys. The mounted tenants
were eighty in number, all carrying long spears and swords. The
torches had long since burnt out, and each man leading his horse
went noiselessly down the road, MacIntosh with the footmen leading
the way. They halted at the bottom of the road. There was no sound
from the spot where the insurgents were lying a couple of hundred
yards down the valley, fatigued by a very long march on the
previous day, and the exertion of dragging the cannon, for only a
few of these were horsed. Presently the day began to break, but
not until it became light enough to see perfectly, did Hector give
the order to mount, and leaping into the saddle prepared to lead
them.

The mounted men had been divided into four bands of twenty each.
Paolo and the three troopers each took the command of a party.
Hector's orders were: "Keep together until the peasants are in full
flight, then separate in pursuit. The movement must be put down
or the whole province will be ruined, therefore give no quarter,
and pursue until your horses are tired, then return here. Now,
MacIntosh, do you advance straight upon the guns; it is probable
that they are all loaded, therefore carry them with a rush. The
moment we see you engaged we will charge."

The horsemen were in single line, extending from side to side of
the valley. Hector kept his eye upon MacIntosh's party. They were
close to the guns before any of the sleepers awoke. Then there
was a sudden shout, and numbers of the men rushed to the cannon.
MacIntosh was there as soon as they were, and pouring in a volley