ss the river which ran three hundred feet below them, they saw the
strong fort of San Christoval towering above them, while they, in
turn, overlooked the city, and beyond its walls, the plain to the
south, not long since covered with vineyards, and olive groves, and
the picturesque villas of the richer citizens of Badajoz--now its bare
surface was furrowed with trenches, ridged with field works, and
spotted with ruins. The devastating blast of war had left it the
picture of desolation.

Lady Mabel, turning to ask L'Isle a question, saw him gazing gloomily
down into the deep but dry fosse below them.

"What fixes your attention on that spot," she asked.

"Do you see where the earth shows, by its color differing from the
adjacent soil, that it has been turned up not long since? Thousands
of Britons, Portuguese, and French are buried there. They met but to
contend, yet now lie peaceably together. I have more than one friend
among them."

Mrs. Shortridge put her hand before her eyes, and Lady Mabel turned
pale as she gazed earnestly below. "Come," she said, at length, "we
have seen enough of bloody Badajoz. There are some feelings that may
well kill the idle curiosity that led us hither."

Descending into the town, they walked into the great square, their
party attracting much attention from several groups of citizens and of
soldiers of the garrison. Captain Don Alonso Melendez stopped them
here to point out various objects of interest, being evidently anxious
to display himself as the patron and intimate of these distinguished
strangers. He brought forward and presented to them two or three more
of his brother officers whom he here met.

While he was thus engaged with others of the party, Lady Mabel found
leisure to remark to Cranfield: "Short as is the distance from Elvas
to Badajoz, I fancy I can perceive, without listening to the language
around me, that I am among a new people."

"You may well be struck with the language," said Cranfield, "while
listening to our patronizing friend here. But you must not take his
discourse for a fair sample of Spanish style or facts."

"Of course not," said Lady Mabel. "Eloquence and intelligence like his
are rare everywhere."

"I trust they are," said Cranfield, with a sneer. "But there is
already an obvious difference observable here in the people, which
becomes more marked as you proceed toward Castile. The Spaniard is
taller and yet leaner than the Portuguese. He has a mo