em two of the dragoons lying in an
apparently drunken sleep. Three horses were quietly led out of the
stable, and the three men rode off, some of the dragoons making a show
of pursuit.

This incident, of course, established the credit of the spy. Las Torres
was convinced that his retreat was really threatened, and hurried on
again with all speed, while all this time the English army was really
many miles away near Murviedro. Other dragoons were induced to feign
desertion, while some permitted themselves to be taken prisoners, and as
each vied with the others in the extravagance of his false information,
the Spanish generals were utterly bewildered by the contradictory nature
of the lies that reached them.

While Las Torres was hastening away at full speed to join the Duke of
Arcos, Peterborough was occupied in fooling Mahony. That officer was a
distant relation of Lady Peterborough, and the earl sent to demand an
interview with him, naming a small hill near the town for the purpose.
When the time for the interview approached the earl disposed his army
so as to magnify their numbers as much as possible. Some were posted
as near the town as they could venture along the pass; others were kept
marching on the lower slopes of the hills, their numbers increased in
appearance by masses of the armed peasantry being mingled with them.

Mahony having received the earl's word for his safety rode out to the
appointed place to meet him, accompanied by several of the principal
Spanish officers. Peterborough first used every persuasion to induce
Mahony to enter the service of King Charles, but the Irish officer
refused to entertain the tempting offers which he made. Peterborough
then changed his tone, and said with an air of kindly frankness:

"The Spaniards have used such severities and cruelties at Villa Real as
to oblige me to retaliate. I am willing to spare a town if under your
protection. I know that you cannot pretend to defend it with the horse
you have, which will be so much more useful in another place if joined
with the troops of Arcos to obstruct my passing the plains of Valencia.
I am confident that you will soon quit Murviedro, which I can as little
prevent as you can hinder me from taking the town. The inhabitants
there must be exposed to the most abject miseries, and I can in no way
preserve it but by being bound in a capitulation, which I am willing to
give you if I have the assurance of the immediate surrender of