eror hears of it!" he exclaimed.

"He will want to have you shot," said the general. "However----But we will
talk no more about it," he added severely, "except how we are to take
such a revenge as will strike wholesome fear upon this country, where they
carry on war like savages."

One hour afterward, a whole regiment, a detachment of cavalry, and a
convoy of artillery were on the road. The general and Victor marched at
the head of the column. The soldiers, informed of the massacre of their
comrades, were filled with extraordinary fury.

The distance which separated the town of Menda from the general quarters
was passed with marvelous rapidity. On the road the general found whole
villages under arms. Each of these wretched townships was surrounded and
their inhabitants decimated.

By some inexplicable fatality, the English ships stood off instead of
advancing. It was known afterward that these vessels had outstripped the
rest of the transports and only carried artillery. Thus the town of Menda,
deprived of the defenders she was expecting, and which the sight of the
English vessels had seemed to assure, was surrounded by the French troops
almost without striking a blow. The inhabitants, seized with terror,
offered to surrender at discretion.

Then followed one of those instances of devotion not rare in the
Peninsula. The assassins of the French, foreseeing, from the cruelty of
the general, that Menda would probably be given over to the flames and the
whole population put to the sword, offered to denounce themselves. The
general accepted this offer, inserting as a condition that the inhabitants
of the castle, from the lowest valet to the Marquis himself, should be
placed in his hands.

This capitulation agreed upon, the general promised to pardon the rest of
the population and to prevent his soldiers from pillaging or setting fire
to the town. An enormous contribution was exacted, and the richest
inhabitants gave themselves up as hostages to guarantee the payment, which
was to be accomplished within twenty-four hours.

The general took all precautions necessary for the safety of his troops,
provided for the defense of the country, and refused to lodge his men in
the houses. After having formed a camp, he went up and took military
possession of the castle. The members of the family of Leganes and the
servants were gagged, and shut up in the great hall where the ball had
taken place, and closely watched.

The windo