About eleven o'clock
Those , however , had to deal at once with Monty , Will and Kagig , who opened on them guerrilla warfare from behind trees -- never opposing them sufficiently to check them altogether , but leading them steadily forward into the two-mile trap . From where I stood on the top of the castle wall I could judge pretty accurately how the fight went ; and I marveled at the skill of our men that they should retire up the road so slowly , and make such a perfect impression of desperate defense . Gloria refused from the first to remain inactive beside me , but went through the trees down the line of the road , crossing at intervals from side to side , urging and begging our ambushed people to be patient and reserve their fire until the chorus of bugles should blow . About eleven o'clock a breathless messenger came to say that the Turks had renewed the attack on the other side of Beirut Dagh ; but I did not even send him on to Kagig . If the attack was a feint , as was probable , intended to distract us from the main battle , then there were men enough there to deal with it . If , on the other hand , Mahmoud had divided forces and sent a formidable number around the mountain , then our only chance was nevertheless to concentrate on our great effort , and defeat the nearest first . There was not the slightest wisdom in sending down a message likely to distract Monty or Will or Kagig from their immediate task .