laurels, and olives bent over the current, or
shot up in taper spires towards the clear blue sky. How many a sheltered
nook we passed, with an involuntary longing to rest and linger among
scenes so full of romantic beauty! But already the din of the retreating
column was borne towards us on the breeze, the heavy, monotonous roll
of large guns and caissons; while now and then we thought we could catch
the swell of martial music blending through the other sounds. But soon
we came up with waggons carrying the wounded and sick, who, having
joined by another road, had fallen to the rear of the march. From them
we learned that the King of Spain, Joseph himself, was with the advanced
guard, and that the destination of the forces was Vittoria, where a
junction with the _corps darmee_ of the other generals being effected,
it was decided on giving battle to the Anglo-Spanish army.

As we advanced, our progress became slower and more difficult; close
columns of infantry blocked up the road, or dense masses of cavalry,
with several hundred led horses and baggage mules, prevented all chance
of getting forward. Gradually, however, the valley widened, the mountain
became less steep; and by evening we reached a large plain, closed
towards the north-east by lofty mountains, which I learned were the
Pyrenees, and beheld in the far distance the tall spires of the city of
Vittoria. Several roads crossed the plain towards the city, all of which
were now crowded with troops--some pressing on in the direction of the
town, others taking up their position and throwing up hasty embankments
and stockades. Meanwhile the loaded waggons, with the spoil of the
rich convents and the royal treasure, were seen wending their slow way
beneath the walls of Vittoria on the road to Bayonne, escorted by a
strong cavalry force, whose bright helmets and breastplates pronounced
them Cuirassiers de la Garde. The animation and excitement of the whole
scene was truly intense, and as I rode along beside the corporal, I
listened with eagerness to his account of the various regiments as they
passed hither and thither and took up their positions on the wide plain.

'There, look yonder,' said he, 'where that dark mass is defiling beside
the pine wood! See how they break into parties; watch them, how they
scatter along the low bank beside the stream under shelter of the
brushwood. There were eight hundred men in that battalion: where are
they now? All concealed--they are