At nightfall the troops got under arms again, and made their way to the Aqueda.
A peasant, whom they fell in with soon after they started, had undertaken to show them a ford.

It was breast deep, but the stream was not strong, and they crossed without difficulty, holding their arms and ammunition well above the water.

They learned that there was, indeed, a French brigade at the bridge of San Felices.
Marching north now, they came before daybreak upon the Douro.

Here they again lay up during the day and, that evening, obtained two boats at a village near the mouth of the Tormes, and crossed into the Portuguese province of Tras os Nontes.
The 500 men joined in a hearty cheer, on finding themselves safe in their own country.

After halting for a couple of days, Terence marched to Castel Rodrigo and then, learning that the main body of the regiment was at Pinhel, marched there and joined them; his arrival causing great rejoicing among his men, for it had been supposed that he and the half battalion had been captured, at the fall of Almeida.