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.