As there were no signs of any French force approaching the position held by the Portuguese, Terence moved his regiment a short distance forward, to a point which enabled them to obtain a view right down the valley in which the conflict was taking place.

He then allowed them to fall out of their ranks; knowing that in less than a minute from the call being sounded they would be under arms again, and in readiness to move in any direction required.

Then, with Herrara and his three English officers, he moved a short distance away and watched the scene.
As soon as Regnier's columns had crossed the bottom of the ravine, their guns along the crest opened fire on the British position facing them.
"They are too far off for grape," Terence said.

"You remember, Ryan, at Corunna, how those French batteries pounded us from the crest, and how little real damage they did us.

A round shot does not do much more harm than a bullet, unless it strikes a column in motion, or troops massed in solid formation.
"Those fellows are mounting the hill very fast." "They are, indeed," Ryan agreed.