you commence the retreat, can we not, say, by a bold dash,
drive them past where those two young Englishmen lie prisoners at the
back of the little stonework they defended so bravely till the last
cartridge was fired away? You do not answer," said the King.

"Your Majesty stung me to the heart," said the _contrabandista_, "in
thinking that I played a coward's part in not rescuing those two lads."

"I hoped I had condoned all that," said the King quickly.

"You have, sire, and perhaps it is the weakness and vanity in my nature
that makes me say in my defence, I and half-a-dozen of my men made as
brave an effort as we could, twice over, when the French made their
final rush, and each time my poor fellows helped me back with a
bayonet-wound.--Ah! what I expected!" he exclaimed hastily, for there
was a flickering light away in front, followed by another and another,
and the sound of hurrying feet, accompanied by the clicking of gun and
pistol lock as the _contrabandistas_ gathered together, rested and
refreshed, and ready for action once again.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

IN THE ROUT.

It is one thing--or two things--to make plans mentally or upon paper,
and another thing to carry them out. A general lays down his plan of
campaign, but a dozen hazards of the war may tend to baffle and spoil
courses which seem as they are laid down sure ways leading to success.

The _contrabandista_ chief had made his arrangements in a way that when
he explained them made his hearers believe that nothing could be better.
His reluctant silence respecting the position of the two lads had
impressed the Spanish King with the belief that he considered the young
riflemen's situation to be hopeless, and that he felt that he had done
everything possible.

In fact, he doubted their being alive, and the possibility, even if they
still breathed where they were struck down, of forcing his way through
the strong force of French that occupied the mine, and reaching their
side. Above all, he felt that he would not be justified in risking the
lives of many men for the sake of two.

And now the flickering lights in the distance told that the French had
somehow contrived the means for making their way through the darkness
easier. They had evidently been busy breaking up case and keg, starting
the brands thoroughly in the fire, and keeping them well alight by their
bearers brandishing them to and fro as they advanced, with the full
intent of drivin