text:  Two carriages and three or four heavily-laden carts each drawn by half-a-dozen mules composed the whole of the convoy; the value of which however might be deemed considerable judging from the strength of the escort and the precautions observed by the officer in command to avoid a surprise--precautions which were not of much avail; for on reaching a spot where the road widened considerably and was traversed by a broad ravine the party was suddenly charged on either flank by double their number of guerillas