n our return home, that my father was pretty well satisfied
with the enthusiasm exhibited by the people generally.

"Bloodshed I fear there must be, for the Spaniards fancy that they can
overthrow liberty with a few blows, and are determined to stamp it out;
but they are mistaken," he observed.

From dawn the next morning, till nightfall, the new levies were
undergoing drill in the great square. I saw Juan at the head of his
men, and Captain Lopez drilling them.

"Don't you think you can give my friend Juan a helping hand?" I said to
Mr Laffan, who had accompanied me.

"Faith, it's not impossible!" he exclaimed, his eye brightening. "If he
asks me, I'll try to brush up my knowledge of such matters."

I told Juan what the dominie had said, when he at once came forward and
begged that he would take charge of a part of his men.

"Is it the cavalry or the infantry?" asked Mr Laffan.

"The cavalry are the most important," answered Juan. "Here is a spare
horse at your service."

Mr Laffan at once leapt into the saddle, and going to the head of the
men, formed them into line. To my surprise, he gave the proper orders
in Spanish without hesitation, and soon showed that he had had no little
experience as a cavalry officer. He kept the men at work for three
hours without cessation, after which they were dismissed for breakfast.
Captain Lopez cast a scowl at us as he passed on his way to his
quarters, without deigning to compliment Mr Laffan on his proficiency.
Juan accompanied us home to breakfast, and afterwards we returned to the
square, when, to my surprise, the dominie took the infantry in hand, and
drilled them for four hours in a still more thorough way even than he
had done the cavalry.

"If we had but a few British sergeants and corporals, we should make
something of these fellows in a few weeks," he observed. "I would be
mightily obliged to the enemy if they would but wait till then; we
should by that time be able to give a good account of them."

Don Juan, as might have been expected, begged Mr Laffan to join his
corps, offering him the command of either of the companies.

"I am engaged to the doctor, and cannot quit his service unless he
dismisses me," he answered; "but, while I have the opportunity, I will
gladly drill your men for as many hours as they can stand on their legs.
Some years have passed since I have done any soldiering, and it makes
me feel young again to be so engaged."

While the l