hink it over, my son, and it may be that I shall take your
advice. Such a misfortune as that which you have suggested is too
terrible to think of."

"It is so, father, terrible indeed; and I feel confident that you will
do the best in your power to prevent the possibility of its occurrence.
Besides, you know, wine may be kept even too long. I judge you not to be
more than forty-five now; with so good a cook and so good a cellar you
may reasonably expect to live to the age of eighty; there is, therefore,
plenty of time for you to lay in another hogshead to mature for your
successor."

The priest burst into a roar of laughter, in which Jack joined him.

"Your reasoning powers are admirable," he said when he recovered his
gravity, "and you have completely convinced me. An hour ago if it had
been suggested to me that I should open that cellar I should have viewed
the proposal with horror; now it seems to me that it is the very best
thing that could be done for all parties, including the wine itself."

There was some further chat as to the course which Jack would follow in
the morning, and he decided finally to ride to the borders of Castile
in order that he might learn as much as possible as to the feeling
of people in that province. Father Ignacio gave him a letter of
introduction to the priest in charge of a village a mile or two within
the border of Arragon, and the next morning Jack started at daybreak,
after a hearty adieu from his host, who insisted on rising to see him
off.

CHAPTER XIV: A PRISONER

Jack, with his two troopers, rode away from the hospitable cottage of
the priest in high spirits. He determined to avoid Saragossa, as he
was not charged with any direct mission from the earl, and wished,
therefore, to avoid any official intercourse with the leaders of the
province. As soon as the marshal had marched, the people there had
risen, had driven out the small French garrison left, and had resumed
the management of their own affairs. Jack learned, however, that the
city had not formally declared for King Charles. As the priest had told
him would be the case, Jack encountered no bodies of armed men during
the day; the country had a peaceful aspect, the peasants were working
in the fields, and at the villages through which he passed the English
uniforms excited a feeling of curiosity rather than of interest. He
stopped at several of these and entered into conversation with the
inhabitants. He found ev