t you. Your men returned at noon yesterday and told
me of the ambush in which they had been beset. Your arrangements were
excellent except for your own safety. How did you manage to get out?
By the way, I was astonished by the arrival here an hour since of the
horses and wagons. The men who brought them could give me no account of
it, except that the Mayor of Estrella returned late yesterday evening
and ordered them to set out before daybreak. It seemed to me a perfect
mystery. I suspected at first that the wine was poisoned, and ordered
the men who brought it to drink some at once, but as they did so without
hesitation or sign of fear, I concluded that I was mistaken. However, I
have kept them captive pending news from you to enlighten me."

"I am not surprised you were astonished, sir, but the matter was simple
enough;" and then Jack related the circumstances which had befallen
them.

"Bravo!" the earl said; "for once, Mr. Stilwell, a good action has had
its reward, which, so far as my experience goes, is an exception."

The earl at once called in a sergeant and ordered the release of the men
who had brought the horses and wagons, and gave ten gold pieces to be
distributed among them. Jack also went out and begged them to give his
compliments and thanks to the mayor.

"I am heartily glad the adventure ended as it did," the earl said when
he returned, "for, putting aside the regret I should have felt at your
loss, it would have been a difficult business for me to undertake, with
my present force, to chastise the men who attacked you, who must be bold
and determined fellows, and capable of realizing the advantages of this
mountainous country. If all Spaniards would do as much it would tax the
power of the greatest military nation to subdue them; and yet I could
hardly have suffered such a check without endeavoring to avenge it; so
altogether, Mr. Stilwell, we must congratulate ourselves that the affair
ended as it did. In any case you would have been in no way to blame, for
your dispositions throughout appear to have been excellent, and marked
alike with prudence and boldness."

CHAPTER XI: VALENCIA

While occupied in preparing for his advance, the general sent letter
after letter to Valencia, bidding the citizens to keep up their courage,
and promising to hasten to the relief of that city. Ordering Jack to
continue the correspondence in his name, so as to delude both friends
and foes that he was still at Ca