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.