I should perhaps have surrendered.

However, wishing to preserve to the best of my ability the precious
charge which had been entrusted to me, I marched on without answering.
Then the three troopers, taking their carbines, opened fire upon me.
Their bullets struck the rocks at my feet but none touched me, the
distance being too great for a correct aim. I was alarmed, not at the
fire, but at the notion that the reports would probably attract the
peasants who would be going to their work in the morning, and I quite
expected to be attacked by these fierce mountaineers. My presentiment
seemed to be verified, for I perceived some fifteen men half a league
away in the valley advancing towards me at a run. They held in their
hands something that flashed in the sun. I made no doubt that they were
peasants armed with their spades, and that it was the iron of these that
shone thus. I gave myself up for lost, and in my despair I was on the
point of letting myself slide down over the rocks on the north side of
the hill to the torrent, crossing it as best I could, and hiding myself
in some chasm of the great mountains which arose on the farther side of
the gorge. Then, if I was not discovered, and if I still had the
strength, I should set out when night came in the direction of Taragona.

This plan, though offering many chances of failure, was my last hope.
Just as I was about to put it into execution, I perceived that the three
carabineers had given up firing on me, and gone forward to reconnoitre
the group which I had taken for peasants. At their approach the iron
instruments which I had taken for spades or mattocks were lowered, and I
had the inexpressible joy of seeing a volley fired at the Spanish
carabineers. Instantly turning, they took flight towards Agreda, as it
seemed, with two of their number wounded. 'The newcomers, then, are
French!' I exclaimed. 'Here goes to meet them!' and, regaining a little
strength from the joy of being delivered, I descended, leaning on my
sword. The French had caught sight of me; they climbed the hill, and I
found myself in the arms of the brave Lieutenant Tassin.

This providential rescue had come about as follows. The soldier who had
deserted me while I was engaged with the carabineers in the streets of
Agreda had quickly reached the vines; thence, leaping across the vine
stocks, ditches, rocks, and hedges, he had very quickly run the distance
which lay between him and the place where we had