There cannot be many men left there." His orders were followed.

Some of the men on the hillside dropped, and the others continued to mount the slopes.

When, as they believed, out of fire, they moved forward so as to take the defenders of the rocks in flank.
"Now, fire a volley among the men in front of us," Desmond said.
"We are not likely to hit any of them, but it is sure to draw their fire, and there will not be many unemptied guns as we pass them." As he expected, the volley was answered by a general fire from their hidden foes.

Then the party leapt into their saddles, and, pistol in hand, galloped up the road.

Several hurried shots were fired from the front, and then, at a shout from their leader, some twenty men leapt from their hiding places and ran down into the road.
Desmond was supported on one side by Mike, and on the other by the sergeant.