It was a sort of natural outwork, pushed out by nature in front of the hill, and rose some fifty feet above the level of the plain.

There were many places at which it could be climbed, and up one of these the track ran obliquely.

Hitherto it had been but an ill-defined path, but here some efforts had been made to render it practicable, by cutting away the ground on the upper side, to enable laden mules to pass up.
Terence reined up at the bottom of the ascent, and directed the men to take up their post on the crest; the leading half of the company to the right, and the other half to the left of the path.

Before all were up the French light troops were clustering round, but a rush was prevented by the heavy fire that opened from the brow above, and the company were soon scattered along the crest, a yard apart.
In five minutes some two thousand French infantry were assembled.

A mounted officer rode some distance to the right and left, to examine the ground.