re, as far as I
can, the driver not to leave his box, but to be ready to start as quick
as I tell him to, and, by generous application of douceurs, I'll try to
so interest the guards that they will have but little time to make any
inquiries as regards your two selves." All went well. We got to the
frontier, the commandant of the guard and the sentries were so taken up
in counting the tips I gave them and dividing them equitably amongst
themselves that they neither examined the luggage nor did they even look
inside the coach. I hustled the three Frenchmen into the coach, after
telling them that it was very, very important that we should proceed at
once, shouted to the driver, "Anda, amigo--corre!" with the result that
the horses jumped off at a bound, and I just managed to throw myself into
the inside of the coach, very nearly reaching the ample laps of my two
delicate lady friends.

The next day we arrived without incident at a small village, somewhat
north of Elisondo, which village was then in the hands of the Carlists.
Here my two lady friends changed their sex, and we passed a very pleasant
evening with the Mayor of the town, who had been able for some months
previously, to be a Republican of the most determined character while the
town was occupied by the Government troops, and to be a Carlist, second
to none in his enthusiasm for the Carlist cause, as soon as the Carlist
troops took possession of it again.

[Illustration: Alfonso XII. (1874-1886) at the time of his accession]

[Illustration: The Prince Imperial

His last portrait, painted from life at Woolwich by Olivier Pichat]

CHAPTER IV

FIRST WAR EXPERIENCE

I arrived at the headquarters of the Carlist Army, the stronghold of
Estella, about the middle of January, 1875. Estella had been the seat of
Government of the first Don Carlos in the earlier war.

On December 31, 1874, young Alfonso had been proclaimed King of Spain.
His accession to the throne had taken place earlier than the Civil
Government, then in power in Madrid, had intended. Its members were
Royalists, and were preparing the way for the restoration of Alfonso to
the throne, but were not anxious to hasten it until their plans were
matured. Sagasta was their Civil Head; Bodega, Minister for War; Primo de
Rivera, Captain-General of New Castile, all powerful with the soldiers
then under his command. The man who forced their hands was General
Martinez Campos, a junior general. A mile