their head and rode directly for the sea.

"The Spaniards are sure to have outposts placed on all the roads leading
inland," he said to Colonel Zinzendorf, "and the Spanish irregulars will
be scattered all over the country; but I do not suppose they will have
any down as far as the seashore."

When they reached the coast they followed a small road running along its
margin. Two or three miles further they turned off and rode inland till
they struck a main road, so as to avoid following all the windings of
the coast. They now pushed on at a sharp trot, and just at four o'clock
came down upon the little port.

Its streets were cumbered with country carts, and as the dragoons dashed
into the place a few shots were fired by some Spanish soldiers belonging
to a small detachment which had been sent by Las Torres to act as a
convoy for the guns and stores, and who were sleeping on the pavement
or scattered among the houses in readiness for a start at daybreak.
The resistance soon ceased. Before entering the place Peterborough had
placed a cordon of dragoons in a semicircle round it to prevent any one
passing out.

No time was lost; the carts were already loaded, and a troop of cavalry
horses stood picketed by the guns. These were soon harnessed up, and the
few other horses in the place were seized to prevent any one riding off
with the news. The order was given to the peasants to start their carts,
and in ten minutes after their entering the place the convoy was on its
way with its long row of carts laden with ammunition and its sixteen
guns.

The cordon of dragoons was still left round the town, the officer in
command being ordered to allow no one to pass for an hour and a half,
after which time he was to gallop on with his men to overtake the
convoy, as by that time it would be no longer possible for any one to
carry the news to Las Torres in time for him to put his troops into
motion to cut off the convoy from Valencia. The journey back took much
longer than the advance, for the carts, drawn for the most part by
bullocks, made but slow progress. Three hours after the convoy started
the dragoons left behind overtook them. When within three miles of the
town, they were met by a small party of the enemy's Spanish militia; but
these were at once scattered by a charge of the dragoons, and the convoy
proceeded without further molestation until just at noon it entered the
gates of Valencia, where the astonishment and delight o