r, and numerous towns and fortified places had fallen into the hands
of Zumalacarregui and his victorious lieutenants. The mere name of the
Carlist chief had become a tower of strength to his followers, and a
terror to his foes; and several ably managed surprises had greatly
increased the panic dread with which the news of his approach now
inspired the Christino troops. On the heights of Descarga a strong
column of the Queen's army had been attacked in the night, and routed
with prodigious loss, by the Carlist general Eraso; in the valley of the
Baztan General Oraa had been beaten by Sagastibelza, leaving ninety
officers and seven hundred men in the hands of the victors; Estella,
Vergara, Tolosa, Villafranca, and numerous other considerable towns,
were held by the soldiers of the Pretender; and, to crown all, Paco
learned, to his astonishment, that Zumalacarregui and his army were then
in front of Bilboa, vigorously besieging that rich and important city.

Towards Bilboa, then, did Paco bend his steps. The remote position of
the village where he had obtained the above information, caused it to be
but irregularly supplied with intelligence from the army; and it was not
till the evening of his first day's march, that the muleteer heard a
piece of news which redoubled his eagerness to reach the Carlist
headquarters. Zumalacarregui, he was informed, had received, whilst
directing the operations of the siege, a severe and dangerous wound.
Fearing he might die before he reached him, Paco endeavoured to hire or
purchase a horse, but all that could be spared had been taken for the
Carlist army; and he rightly judged that through so mountainous a
country he should make better progress on foot than on any Rosinante
offered to him. He pushed forward, therefore, with all possible haste;
but his feet had grown tender during his imprisonment, and he was but
indifferently satisfied with his rate of marching. On the following day,
however, his anxiety was considerably dissipated by learning that
Zumalacarregui's wound was slight, and that the surgeons had predicted a
rapid cure. He nevertheless continued his journey without abatement of
speed, and on the afternoon of the fourth day arrived on the summit of
the hills that overlook Bilboa. The suburbs were occupied by the
Carlists, whose slender battering train kept up a fire that was
vigorously replied to by the forty or fifty cannon bristling the
fortifications. Entering the faubourg kn