"At what hour do you wish the escort and guide to be ready in the morning ?" "I should like to start as early as possible, Colonel.

I myself, being well mounted, might cross the sierra in a day; but the troopers' horses could not do that." "You would not gain anything if they could, Major Kennedy, for even if your horse could carry you over sixty or seventy miles of mountain roads in a day, you would certainly need a couple of days' rest before proceeding farther.

If you get as far as Enmedio, which is in the heart of the sierra, you will have done well.

You will then have another long day's ride down to Ciudad Real, from which place the officer with six of the troopers will return.

The general says nothing about a noncommissioned officer, but I shall take it upon myself to send one to accompany you, with the four men.