awn out in the earl's name, as cavalry officers. Their
astonishment was changed to delight when Peterborough marched them to
the brow of the hill where they stood, and they saw eight bodies of
horses drawn up in order ready for their eight companies. Among
these were set apart three good chargers for each captain, two for
lieutenants, and one for cornets. He ordered the regiment to mount, and,
immensely amused at their sudden elevation to the cavalry service, the
troops rode back to the town.

From the moment when he started from San Matteo Peterborough had, in
spite of his incessant exertions and multifarious cares, been quietly
making preparations for this event. He had sent to Barcelona for the
necessary accouterments for these men and for the dismounted British
dragoons. The accouterments had been sent from Barcelona to the nearest
port on the seacoast, and by continually urging on the local carriers
the earl had, in nine days after leaving San Matteo, collected them in
readiness at his depot at Castillon, and thus raised his little band
of horse to nearly a thousand men. These he dispersed at once among the
well affected towns of the neighborhood, whose walls would render them
safe from the attack of an enemy unsupported by artillery, moving them
constantly from place to place, partly to accustom them to their new
duties, partly to confuse the enemy as to their numbers.

CHAPTER X: AN ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS

"Mr. Stillwell," the earl said, a few days after his arrival at
Castillon, "will you take twenty dragoons and ride out to the village of
Estrella? The district round it is extremely hostile, and they prevent
supplies being brought in from that direction. Get hold of the principal
men in the place, and tell them that if I hear any more complaints of
hostility in that neighborhood I will send out a regiment of horse,
burn their village, and ravage all the country. I don't think you need
apprehend any opposition; but of course you will keep a good lookout."

"Am I to return tonight, sir?"

"Let that depend upon your reception. If the inhabitants show a fairly
good disposition, or if you see that at any rate there is a considerable
section of the population well disposed to the cause, stay there for
the night, and in the morning make a wide circuit through the district
before returning. If you perceive a strong hostile feeling it were best
not to sleep there; with so small a force you would be liable