Of course, they are strongest along the line of communication with France; but it may be said that, roughly, where there are mountains there are guerillas, though there are but few of them along the hills we crossed between the valley of the Tagus and that of the Douro.
"This is for two reasons: in the first place, there are very few villages, and they would have difficulty in maintaining themselves; and in the second place, because hitherto Leon and Old Castile, on the north of the Sierra, have always been under different commands to that in the Tagus valley, and therefore there has been but small communication between them, except by messengers with despatches from Madrid.

The passes have scarcely been used and, indeed, in winter they are practically altogether impassable; except that along the valley of the Ebro.

We found that to our cost, when we marched with Napoleon to cut off your British General Moore.

We lost nearly two days getting through them, and the delay saved your army." "Yes, it was a very close thing," Terence said.

"As I have told you, I was with Moore; and if the troops from the south had come up but six hours earlier, it would have gone very hard with us." "It was an awful time," the officer said, "and I think our army must have suffered quite as much as yours did.