hat he is in command here instead of the marshal; he is a
gentleman, and will respect the parole I gave for myself and my men;
if it had been Tesse I might have had trouble, for as likely as not he
would have scoffed at my promise, and ordered me and my men back to the
front again, and then I should have been placed in a nice fix."

"The best thing you could do for me," Jack said, "would be to suggest
to the marshal that he should exchange me against you. If he will let
me take my two troopers I would throw in all your men. There will be no
occasion to arrange it with our general; you gave your word to me, and
I can give it you back again. As I am of no use to him, and you are, I
should think he would consent."

"I should think so too," Major Ferre said, "and should be delighted, on
both our accounts, if it could be managed."

Three hours later the major returned in high spirits.

"I have arranged the matter," he said, "and we are both free men. You
can't stir out of here at present, because it would not be safe for
you to go about Madrid; but I have orders to march tomorrow morning,
in command of a convoy, to join Las Torres outside Valencia, so you can
ride with me till we get near the town, and then join your people."

Jack was delighted, and the next morning set out with the convoy. His
appearance, as he rode by the side of Major Ferre with his two orderlies
behind him, excited the greatest surprise and curiosity in the various
towns and villages through which they passed. The journey was a pleasant
one, Major Ferre exerting himself in every way to make it as pleasant
as possible. After four days' journey the convoy arrived within sight
of Valencia. When they came to a place where the roads forked the major
said:

"That is your way, my dear Stilwell. I hope that some day the fortunes
of war will throw us together again, in some pleasant position where
we can renew our friendship. Two miles on is a ford across the river,
where, as the peasants tell me, two of your vedettes are posted; another
hour's ride will take you to Valencia."

With a hearty goodby on both sides, Jack and his two dragoons rode off,
and soon astonished the English vedettes by their appearance on the
opposite bank of the river. A few words in English convinced the
soldiers that it was no trick that was being played with them, and Jack
rode across the ford and then galloped on to Valencia.

"Well, Captain Stilwell," the earl said as Jack en