The village was but some fifteen miles off, and lay in the center of a fertile district on the other side of a range of lofty hills.

The road they were traversing ran through the hills by a narrow and very steep valley.
"This would be a nasty place to be attacked," Jack said to the sergeant, who was riding just behind him.
"It would, indeed, sir; and if they were to set some of those stones arolling they would soon knock our horses off their legs." A mile or two further on the road again descended and the valley opened to a fertile country.

Another half hour's sharp riding brought them into Estrella.

Their coming had probably been signaled, for the inhabitants evinced no sudden alarm as the little troop rode along the principal street.

The women stood at the doors of the houses to look at them, the men were gathered in little knots at the corners; but all were unarmed, and Jack saw at once that there was no intention of offering resistance.
He alighted at the door of the village inn, and in a few minutes two or three of the chief men in the village presented themselves.
"The English general," Jack said, "has heard that the people of your neighborhood are hostile, and that those who would pass through with animals and stores for the army are prevented from doing so.