they proceeded the sad traces of warfare were everywhere
visible. Whole farmsteads burnt to the ground, houses in ruins,
churches unroofed, groves of orange and olive trees cut down, fences
destroyed, and fields once fertile returning to a state of nature, and
overrun with weeds. The guide looked at them as objects to which he was
well accustomed, but now and then he ground his teeth and swore
vengeance on the heads of the fell invaders of his country.

Job had been remarking where the devastating hand of war had passed, and
had counted up the objects destroyed. At length he gave expression to
his thoughts.

"Well, to my mind, it's a mortal pity people take to fighting on shore.
Why don't they stick to their ships, and always have it out afloat?
that's the sensible thing, and then the only harm's done to the ships
and the men who has the fun of the thing, and gets the honour and glory,
and that's all natural and right."

Bob heartily joined in with Job's notion.

"If I was a king, I wouldn't let 'em," he remarked. "I'd say, just you
let the farms, and the gardens, and the women and children, and the
churches alone; and if you wants to tight, by all manner of means fight
it out, but keep afloat, and don't come here."

The seamen had been conversing for some time in this strain, when the
clatter of a horse's hoof was heard behind them, and turning their heads
they saw the same Spaniard who had accompanied them on their way the day
before. They told Morton, who turned his horse's head to meet him.

"Thank heaven that my steed has carried me so well, and that I have come
up to you," exclaimed Don Josef. "There is work for you; your aid is
wanted; you will not refuse it, I know? But come, ride back with me as
fast as your beast's legs will move, and I will tell you. Give him the
spur! spare him not; I may supply you with a better soon. The French
are at no great distance from this; secure as they fancy themselves, we
have spies among them to inform us of all their movements. After
daybreak this morning, one of the spies arrived, and brought me notice
that the enemy were advancing, and that they having heard that a British
commissioner was in the neighbourhood, had resolved to carry him off.
On hearing this, I instantly set out to warn your countryman of the
danger to which he was exposed, but on my way I met a person who
informed me that he and his party had set forth at a very early hour,
and were actually