We are both well mounted, and the peasants will be on foot, and a great proportion of them unarmed; so that, beyond the chance of being hit by a ball, the risk is not great." Accordingly, on the following day they rode out, and for nearly a week examined the lines of route across the frontier.

They followed the roads between the foot of the mountains and the frontier, as far as Portalegre, but avoided the towns of Campo Mayor and Arronches; crossed the hills, and struck upwards by the bank of the Zarina to Frontiera, and thence west as far as Lavre.
They met with no interference by such peasants as they saw working in the fields, or by those in the small villages through which they passed, these supposing the uniforms to be those of English or Dutch officers.
They found that the roads were fully as bad as those of Spain, and would present great difficulty to any army with artillery and a long train of waggons.

In one of the places they heard from a peasant, with whom they conversed, that there was another pass over the mountains from Elvas.

Of course, the man spoke in Portuguese, but the language sufficiently resembled Spanish for Desmond to understand its meaning.
"We must investigate that road, Mike, for, if it is practicable, it would be the most direct for an army coming from Lisbon.

Of course, we shall have to make a wide circle round Elvas, as there is sure to be a strong garrison there, and any soldiers riding about the country would be certain to know that our uniform was French.