ll my life, and I turned up at the other man, who stooped over me, a
look of absurd surmise.

He was a Spanish peasant, short, thick-set and muscular, but assuredly
no Sancho: a quiet quick-eyed man, with a curious neat grace in his
movements. Our tussle had not heated him in the least. His right fist
rested on my back, and I knew he had a knife in it; and while I gasped
for breath he watched me, his left hand hovering in front of my mouth
to stop the first outcry. Through his spread fingers I saw Don Quixote
light the lantern and raise it for a good look at me. And with that in
a flash my wits came back, and with them the one bit of Gaelic known
to me.

"_Latha math leat_" I gasped, and caught my breath again as the
fingers closed softly on my jaw, "_O Alan mhic Neill_!"

The officer took a step and swung the lantern close to my eyes--so
close that I blinked.

"Gently, Jose." He let out a soft pleased laugh while he studied my
face. Then he spoke a word or two in Gaelic--some question which I did
not understand.

"My name is McNeill," said I; "but that's the end of my mother
tongue."

The Captain laughed again. "We've caught the other one, Jose," said
he. And Jose helped me to my feet--respectfully, I thought. "Now
this," his master went on, as if talking to himself, "this explains a
good deal."

I guessed. "You mean that my presence has made the neighbourhood a
trifle hot for you!"

"Exactly; there is a General Order issued which concerns one or both
of us."

I nodded. "In effect it concerns us both; but, merely as a matter of
history, it was directed against me. Pardon the question, Captain, but
how long have you been within the French lines?"

"Three days," he answered simply; "and this is the third night."

"What? In that uniform?"

"I never use disguises," said he--a little too stiffly for my taste.

"Well, I do. And I have been within Marmont's cantonments for close,
on three weeks. However, there's no denying you're a champion. But did
you happen to notice the date on the General Order?"

"I did; and I own it puzzled me. I concluded that Marmont must have
been warned beforehand of my coming."

"Not a bit of it. The order is eight days old. I secured a copy on the
morning it was issued; and the next day, having learnt all that
was necessary in Salamanca, I allowed myself to be hired in the
market-place of that city by the landlord of this damnable inn."

"I disapprove of swearing," put in Ca