There was a stampede.

The scouts occupied the ridge until sundown, and were returning leisurely to report the presence of the column, when they fell in with the first batch of fugitives from the valley.

Forthwith, Philip became a general and each scout an officer.

They reasoned and whacked the runaways into obedience, picked up quite a number of men who were willing enough to fight if told what was expected of them--and the rest was a matter of simple strategy such as Macaulay's schoolboy would exhibit in the escalade of a snow fort.

But it was a near thing.