We must there travel by one or other of the roads through the defiles, and it is possible all these may be watched.

If we are attacked, we must endeavour to ride through them.

If this is impossible, we will sell our lives as dearly as we can." "You may trust us for that, Major," the sergeant said.

"I have no love for these Spaniards, and we are all discontented at being kept down here to fight the King of Spain's battles, instead of being up in the north, where every man is wanted to prevent the enemy marching to Paris." They struck off from the road when nearing Merida, and followed a country track until they came upon the road between that town and Torre Mocha.

Avoiding the latter place, they took the road to Truxillo, and, late in the afternoon, approached that town and halted in a wood two miles distant from it.
Here Desmond consulted his map.