alling into the hands of the guerilla
bands who infested the mountain passes, and who never gave quarter even
to the wounded and the dying.

The long file at length passed, but only to make way for a still longer
procession of Spanish prisoners, who, bound wrist to wrist, marched
between two files of mounted gendarmes. The greater number of these were
mountaineers, guerillas of the south, condemned to the galleys for life,
their bronzed faces and stalwart figures a striking contrast to their
pale and emaciated companions, the inhabitants of the towns, who could
scarce drag their weary limbs along, and seemed at every step ready to
sink between misery and privation. The ribald jests and coarse language
of the soldiers were always addressed to these, there seeming to be
a kind of respect for the bolder guerillas even in the hour of their
captivity. The tramp of led horses, the roll of waggons, the cracking of
whips, mingled with the oaths of muleteers and the fainter cries of the
sick, now filled the air, and only occasionally did the loud cannonade
rise above them. From every window faces appeared, turned with excited
eagerness towards the dense crowds; and though I could perceive that
inquiries as to the fate of the day were constantly made and answered,
my ignorance of Spanish prevented my understanding what was said.

The noise in front of the prison, where the thoroughfare was wider and
larger, far exceeded that around me; and at last I could hear the steps
of persons marching overhead, and ascending and descending the stairs.
Doors clapped and slammed on every side; when, suddenly, the door of
my own cell was shaken violently, and a voice cried out in French, 'Try
this; I passed twice without perceiving it.' The next moment the lock
turned, and my room was filled with dragoons, their uniforms splashed
and dirty, and evidently bearing the marks of a long and severe march.

'Are you the Guerilla Guiposcoa de Condeiga?' said one of the party,
accosting me, as I stood wrapped up in my cloak.

'No; I am an English officer.'

'Show your epaulettes, then,' said another, who knew that Spanish
officers never wore such.

I opened my cloak, when the sight of my red uniform at once satisfied
them. At this instant a clamour of voices without was heard, and several
persons called out, 'We have him! here he is!' The crowd around me
rushed forth at the sound; and following among them I reached the
street, now jammed up with h