wn a long, long hill, round two or
three death-trap bends, and so, by gentle stages, on to a windy
plain....

It was half-past six when we ran into Pampeluna.

After paying an entrance fee, we proceeded to the Grand Hotel. It was
intensely cold, and a wind cut like a knife. The streets were crowded,
and we moved slowly, with the result that the eight urchins who decided
to mount the running-boards did so without difficulty. The four upon
my side watched Berry evict their fellows with all the gratification of
the immune.

"Little brutes," said Daphne. "Round to the left, Boy. That's right.
Straight on. Look at that one. He's holding on by the lamp. Boy,
can't you---- Now to the right.... Here we are."

"Where?" said I, slowing up.

"Here. On the right. That must be it, with the big doors."

As I climbed out of the car, seven more boys alighted from the dickey,
the wings, the luggage, and the spare wheels.

A second later I found myself in a bank.

The edifice appeared to be deserted, but after a moment or two an
individual came shuffling out of the shadows. My inability to speak a
word of Spanish and his inability to speak a word of anything else
disfavoured an intelligent conversation, but at last I elicited first
that the Grand Hotel was next door, and secondly that it would not be
open until July.

I imparted this pleasing information to the others.

"Closed?" said Berry. "Well, that is nice. Yes. He's quite right.
Here it is in the Guide. 'Open from July to October.' I suppose a
superman might have put it more plainly, but it's a pretty broad hint.
And now what shall we do? Three months is rather long to wait,
especially as we haven't had any tea. Shall we force an entry? Or go
on to Madrid?"

"Fool," said Daphne. "Get in, Boy. I'm getting hungry."

I got in and started the engine.

Then I got out again with a stick.

This the seven boys, who had remounted, were not expecting.

I got in again, feeling better....

The second hotel we visited was admirably concealed.

As we were passing it for the second time, Jonah came stepping across
the pavement.

"Lucky for you we got in early," he said. "We've got the last two
rooms. They're on the fourth floor, they're miles apart, they're each
about the size of a minute, and I don't think the beds are aired. The
lift's out of order, there's no steam heat, and there are no
fire-places. Both the bath-rooms have been let as bedroo