"Men are moving in the thicket on our right.

I couldn't hear much, but they must be as numerous as we are.
They're enemies or they'd have come out.

They're on foot, too, as they couldn't manage horses in those deep woods.

Likely they've left their mounts with a guard on top of a ridge, as men on foot wouldn't be abroad at such a time on such a night." "Then it's an ambush!" said Dick, and he added in a sharp voice: "Pull away to the left, men, under cover!" Shepard was the first to turn and all the others followed instantly.
Three jumps of the horses and they were among the bushes and trees on the left.

It was lucky for them that they had heard the sound of the wet bushes rustling together, as a dozen rifles flashed in the dusk on the other side of the road.