, however, and a heavy fall of snow, in
some degree paralyzed the operations of the Christinos, whilst this
occasioned incredible sufferings to the Carlists. One battalion of the
latter, in passing from Navarre to Guipuzcoa, across the mountains of
Aralar, lost 460 men out of 620, of which it consisted. Numbed by cold,
and worn out by fatigue, they remained to die upon the road, or dragged
themselves for shelter to lonely hamlets and isolated farmhouses, where
many of them were discovered and taken by Christino detachments sent to
hunt them down. "Truly," says Zaratiegui, "it was a lamentable sight to
behold these unfortunate men, who were unable to move hand or foot, thus
persecuted. But even in this state of impotence and peril, not one of
them chose to avail himself of the pardon which the Christino generals
at that time freely offered to those who should renounce Don Carlos.
Doubtless a great proof of how noble and constant was their first
resolution."

In order not to inconvenience the inhabitants, Zumalacarregui was in the
habit of distributing his troops over large districts, himself
frequently remaining with only a handful of men about him. On one of
these occasions an incident occurred which is related at considerable
length by General Zaratiegui, who evidently attaches the greatest
importance to his late chief's most trifling actions, and, in the course
of his book, compares him to or sets him above various renowned heroes
of ancient and modern times. The anecdote, however, is curious, as
showing the constant state of vigilance and anxiety in which the
Carlists were kept during these early days of their uprising.

"Zumalacarregui had taken up his quarters in the hamlet of Zabal, which
consisted of only four houses; and, as the season was unfavourable for a
bivouac, he had scattered the troops through various small villages in
the neighbourhood. With himself there remained only a guard of fifteen
or twenty men, and a few aides-de-camp. It was in the middle of
December, when the nights are at the longest, and consequently the most
favourable time of the year for an enemy to accomplish a surprise. The
Carlist general lay awake in his bed, watching for the dawn, which
seemed to him longer than usual in appearing; till at last his own
restlessness and impatience made him fancy that the Christinos were
coming to surprise him. A distant noise which he heard, and which
resembled the trot of horses, confirmed the hall