rown up, walls
utilized, and houses loopholed and placed in a state of defense.

It was late in the afternoon before they rode again into the village.
The gathering of peasants was now very largely increased, and extended
over the fields for some distance round the place. The count at once
gave orders that all should form up in regular order according to the
villages from which they came. When this was done he divided them into
four groups.

The first, two thousand strong, was intended to hold the passes; two
others, each one thousand strong, were to operate upon the flanks of the
enemy; and a fourth, of the same strength, to act in its rear.

"Now, Captain Stilwell," he said, "will you take the command of
whichever of these bodies you choose?"

"I thank you, count, for the offer," Jack said, "but I will take no
command whatever. In the first place, your Catalans would very strongly
object to being led by a foreigner, especially by one so young and
unknown as myself. In the second place, I would rather, with your
permission, remain by your side. You will naturally command the force
that opposes the direct attack, and, as the bulk of the fighting
will fall on them, I should prefer being there. I will act as your
lieutenant."

"Well, since you choose it, perhaps it is best so," the count said.
"These peasants fight best their own way. They are given to sudden
retreats, but they rally quickly and return again to the fight, and they
will probably fight better under their own local leaders than under a
stranger. You will see they have no idea of fighting in a body; the men
of each village will fight together and act independently of the rest.
Many of them, you see, are headed by priests, not a few of whom have
brought rifles with them. These will generally lead their own villagers,
and their authority is far greater than that which any layman could
obtain over them. I must appoint a leader to each body to direct their
general movements; the village chiefs will do the rest."

While the count had been absent several other gentlemen of good family
had arrived in the village, some marching in with the peasants on their
estates. Three of these were appointed to lead the three bands destined
for the flank and rear attacks. The next three hours were devoted to the
distribution of provisions and ammunition, each man taking four days'
supply of the former, and receiving sufficient powder and bullets for
forty rounds of the lat