efore they
were aware of their danger.

There was no attempt at resistance beyond a few hasty shots. The
Castilians were sleeping wrapped up in their cloaks around the place,
and on the alarm they leaped up and fled wildly in all directions.
In the darkness great numbers got away, but six hundred were taken
prisoners. An hour was spent in collecting and breaking the arms left
behind by the fugitives, and the force, with their prisoners in their
midst, then started back on their return march. The circuit of the
Spanish camp was made, and the ford passed as successfully as before,
and just as daylight was breaking the little army marched into Valencia.

The news rapidly spread, and the inhabitants hurried into the streets,
unable at first to credit the news that the Castilian army, whose
approach menaced the safety of the town, was destroyed. The movement of
the troops on the previous night to the ramparts and the absence of the
greater part of the officers from the festivities had occasioned
some comment; but as none knew that an expedition had set out, it was
supposed that the earl had received news from his spies that Las Torres
intended to attempt a sudden night attack, and the people would have
doubted the astonishing news they now received had it not been for the
presence of the six hundred Castilian prisoners.

These two serious misadventures caused Las Torres to despair of success
against a town defended by so energetic and enterprising a commander as
Peterborough, and he now turned his thoughts toward the small towns of
Sueca and Alcira. Below these towns and commanded by their guns was the
important bridge of Cullera, by which by far the greater portion of
the supplies for the town was brought in from the country. Las Torres
therefore determined to seize these places, which were distant about
fifteen miles from his camp, and so to straiten the town for provisions.

As usual, Peterborough's spies brought him early intelligence of the
intended movement, and the orders issued by Las Torres were known to the
earl a few hours later. It needed all his activity to be in time. Five
hundred English and six hundred Spanish infantry, and four hundred
horse, were ordered to march with all speed to the threatened towns;
and, pushing on without a halt, the troops reached them half an hour
before the Spanish force appeared on the spot. On finding the two towns
strongly occupied by the British, Las Torres abandoned his inten