eported dead. At other times I was
rapidly being promoted in the Carlist Army. I had also been taken
prisoner by the Government troops, tried by court-martial, and sentenced
to durance vile in the deep dungeons of some ancient fortress. Their
sympathies for me had risen to enthusiasm or were lowered to zero,
according to the rumours of the day, but they were all glad to see me
back. Still they pitied me indeed, as they wondered amongst themselves
what my fate was now to be.

The preliminary investigation into my disorderly conduct took place
before the Colonel Commanding, and I was then remanded to be dealt with
by the Governor. I was duly marched in to his august presence, under
armed escort, and, after having had the charge of being absent without
leave duly read to me, I was called upon by him to make any statement I
wished with reference to my conduct.

As I have already said, I had learnt English only after I was thirteen
years of age, and on joining at Woolwich I still spoke English with a
considerable foreign accent, which perhaps had become more marked during
my recent protracted visit to Don Carlos and his Army. I have always
noticed that when one gets excited a foreign accent becomes more
accentuated. It undoubtedly did on this occasion, especially when I
endeavoured to give a description of some of the fighting in the course
of my statement. I even ventured to ask that I might be given a piece of
paper and a pencil to jot down the dispositions of the opposing forces
which took part in one of our biggest fights. I had barely made the
request when the Governor stopped me and said: "Do you mean to tell me
that you have picked up a foreign accent like this during the short time
that you have been in Spain?" "Oh, no, sir, I have always had it. I mean,
I've had it ever since I learnt English."

Sir Lintorn looked serious when I said this. A smile flitted across the
countenances of the Colonel Commanding and the Adjutant--and even of the
escort. "When did you learn English--and where? And where do you come
from?" "I learnt English," I answered, "about five years ago at the
Oratory at Edgbaston, Birmingham, and I spoke Spanish before that." "What
countryman are you, then?" "Well," I said, "my father is Scotch, my
mother is Irish, and I was born in Spain. I'm not quite sure what I am."

This time the smile turned into suppressed laughter. General Simmons
looked at me for a short instant. Then he, too, smiled and sa