At any rate, the Chileans began the attack at once.

The crack of their guns along the line sounded like the running of a finger over the key board of a piano.

The bullets began to shatter the house in which the diplomats were conferring.

They suddenly became aware of their danger and fled in all directions.
Minister Christiancy was seen in his shirt sleeves valiantly running across the fields towards Lima along with many others.

Not to speak flippantly, it was a genuine go-as-you-please hurdle race, for they had to jump the low, mud walls forming the fences.