the old mine, bearing back with them the royal
party, who had struggled to restrain them in vain.

The part of the old workings to which they had retreated was almost in
utter darkness, and just when the French were having their own way and
the Spanish party were giving up in despair, their enemies came to a
stand, the French officers hesitating to continue the pursuit, fearing a
trap, or that they might be led into so dangerous a position that they
might meet with another reverse.

They felt that where they were they thoroughly commanded the exit, and
after a brief colloquy it was decided to give their men breathing-time
while a party went back into the great cave, where the fire was still
burning, and did what they could to contrive a supply of firebrands or
torches before they made another advance.

Fortunately for the Spanish party, the cessation of the attack on the
part of the French gave the former breathing-time as well; and, wearied
out though he was, and rather badly wounded, the _contrabandista_
hurriedly gathered his men together, and though ready to upbraid them
bitterly for the way in which they had yielded to the French attack, he
busied himself instead in trying to prepare them for a more stubborn
resistance when the encounter was resumed.

He had the advantage of his enemies in this, that they were all
thoroughly well acquainted with the ramifications of the old mine, and
it would be in his power, he felt, to lead the enemy on by giving way
strategically and guiding them where, while they were meeting with great
difficulties in tracing their flying foes, these latter would be able to
escape through one of the old adits and carry with them the King and his
followers.

The _contrabandista_, too, had this further advantage--that he could
easily refresh his exhausted men, who were now suffering cruelly from
hunger and thirst. To this end he gave his orders quickly to several,
who hurried away, to return at the end of a short time bearing a couple
of skins of wine and bread from their regular store. These refreshments
were hurriedly distributed, the King and his party not being forgotten;
and after all partook most hastily, the men's leader busied himself in
seeing to the worst of the wounded, sending several of these latter into
hiding in a long vault where the mules of the party were stabled ready
to resume their loads when the next raid was made across the passes.

"Now, my lads," he said, address