I therefore started early.

Keeping by byroads, we were not molested until we had nearly reached the summit of the sierra, when we found a party of some sixty men barring the road.

We had a fight with them, and succeeded in getting through with no further damage than a ball through the arm of one of my escort, and that, fortunately, was only a flesh wound." "But tell me how it was that so small a party escaped so easily ?" Desmond then recounted the incidents of the fight.
"Admirably contrived, sir!" the duke said warmly.

"Excellent generalship! You first attack their centre and drive them off the road, then you compel them to weaken themselves by throwing out flanking parties.

You keep these out of musket shot, and then charge on their weakened centre after drawing their fire.