The man threw up his hands in amazement, and Antonio gasped. Jack watched the effect of his announcement; he had come rapidly to the conclusion that as Antonio was clearly regarded by his friends as a staunch patriot, there would be no danger in disclosing his own nationality. "And I’ve come this way to find out all I can about the French. I want two active young fellows to help me, and I’ve been looking at these two fine lads—sons of yours, I take it?" "Yes, Señor, they are my sons. Manuel is nineteen, and his brother Juan a year younger, and ’tis ten years yesterday since their poor mother went to heaven." The two young men, with square-set faces and ragged shocks of black hair, stood listening with interest. Jack had watched them narrowly during the evening. They had something less than the usual stolidity of expression, looked fairly intelligent, and appeared likely to serve him well as special messengers. "They would have to be prepared for hard work," he said, "at any hour of the day or night. They would be well paid, of course—" "Señor," interrupted the landlord, "a good patriot doesn’t require pay for working against the French." Jack thought he had heard a different account about some of his host’s countrymen, but he went on: "Well then, you will not object to your sons entering my service as messengers between me and my general?" "But, Señor, I shall then be single-handed. Who will there be then to attend to my guests—to mix the puchero, and stir the gaspacho, and rub down the mules? The lads could not leave their poor old father alone." "Caramba!" struck in Antonio, who was now devoting himself to a fried onion, "what is that? Here am I leaving my wife and three children, to fight the French." "You’ve left them before," said the landlord dryly. "And there’s Don Pedro’s letter, you know," suggested Jack. The landlord glanced at the letter, which lay on the table, and shrugged his shoulders. "Well," he said, "I would do much for Don Pedro. He was a good master to me; he gave me the money to buy this inn; and since he asks me to serve you and my country at the same time, I can’t refuse, Señor—if the lads are willing to go." They at once professed their readiness to serve the Señor in any way, and assured him that they were well acquainted with the country for miles around. "That’s settled, then," said Jack. "Now, Manuel, you won’t mind being employed at once? Have you any mules on the premises?" "Two, Señor." "Just the number required. You will saddle up and ride off at once to Salamanca. I will give you a note to take to Sir John Moore, the English general there. If you can’t find him, ask for General Paget. You can say Paget?" After two or three attempts, Manuel succeeded in pronouncing a passable imitation of the sound.