to it by the bitterest sarcasm
and jeers in his letters to his friends at home. Believing nothing
himself, the gross superstition which he saw prevailing round him was
an argument in favor of his own disbelief in holy things, and he did not
fail to turn it to advantage.

With the ladies his romantic adventures, his extraordinary bravery,
his energy and endurance, his brilliant wit, his polished manner, his
courtesy and devotion, rendered him an almost mythical hero; and the
fair Valencians were to a woman his devoted admirers and adherents.

But, while apparently absorbed in pleasure, Peterborough's energy never
slumbered for a moment. His position was still one of extreme danger.
The force of Las Torres, seven thousand strong, recovering from their
panic, had, a day or two after he entered the town, returned and taken
post on some hills near it, preparatory to recommencing the siege. Four
thousand Castilians were marching to their support by the road leading
through Fuente de la Higuera, while at Madrid, within an easy distance,
lay the overwhelming forces of the main army under Marshal Tesse.. To
cope with these forces he had but his little army in the town, amounting
to but three thousand men, deficient in artillery, ammunition, and
stores of all kinds.

Had Marshal Tesse marched at once to join Las Torres Peterborough's
little force must have been crushed; but the court of King Philip
decided to dispatch the marshal against Barcelona. Fortunately
Peterborough was well informed by the country people of everything that
was passing, for in every town and village there were men or women who
sent him news of all that was going on in their neighborhood.

It was but a week after they entered Valencia that the earl, happening
to pass close by Jack Stilwell at a brilliant ball, paused for a moment
and said:

"Get away from this in half an hour, find Graham, and bring him with you
to my quarters. Before you go find Colonel Zinzendorf and tell him
to have two hundred men ready to mount at half past one. He is here
somewhere. If you find he has left you must go round to the barracks.
Tell him the matter is to be kept an absolute secret. I know," the earl
said gallantly to the lady on his arm and to Jack's partner, "we can
trust you two ladies to say nothing of what you have heard. It is indeed
grief and pain to myself and Captain Stilwell to tear ourselves away
from such society, and you may be sure that none but the most