Ten minutes later the whole squadron of 250 men of the 18th Light Dragoons, General Stewart himself in command, were on their way to Rueda. Jack rode ahead by the general’s side—no longer in French uniform, for when the squadron arrived on the scene Kelly came forward and said: "Brought these, sir; thought you might want ’em." He handed Jack his head-dress and cloak, receiving the Frenchman’s cloak and helmet in exchange. "I didn’t bring the breeches, sir," added Kelly, "thinking it might be a cold change to-night." "Right, Kelly! and that reminds me that I’ve borrowed some of the Frenchman’s money; all fair in war, eh?" General Stewart enquired of Jack as they rode how he had contrived to pick up his information. "Famous, famous!" he exclaimed when the tale had been briefly told. "We mustn’t let a man escape if we can help it. If Franceschi doesn’t hear of this we may scoop up his whole division. How are we going to escape the sentries? They can’t fail to hear us on this hard road, and we can’t muffle the horses’ hoofs." "If you like, sir," suggested Jack, "I’ll go ahead with a few men across the fields and collar them first." "You want to do it all, eh? Very well; we’ll halt when you tell us. If anything goes wrong, give us a hail and we’ll be on your tracks like the wind." When he judged that the squadron had arrived at a safe distance Jack gave the word, the general halted, and Jack went forward across the fields with four men to make a detour and come upon the sentries’ cabin from the direction of Rueda, thereby to deceive the Frenchmen into the belief that the approaching riders were a party coming out to relieve guard. Jack’s men had ridden two hundred yards beyond the cabin, and were just turning to the left to regain the road, when one of the men declared that he heard the sound of trotting horses from the town. "That’s a relief patrol," said Jack. "Ride back to the general, Kelly; tell him we can hardly hope to surprise the town now, and ask him to pick up the men in the cabin as he passes. Now, dragoons, forward with me into Rueda." They set spurs to their horses, and made for the road. Secrecy was no longer possible; the approaching chasseurs heard them, stopped short, hesitated a moment, then turned tail and made at full speed back towards the town, with Jack and his men close at their heels. "Who’s in first, my boys!" cried Jack, rising in his stirrups and urging his flying steed. On they went, heedless of the road, sparks flying from the hoofs, the horses snorting with the joy of the chase. Into the town with a clash and a clatter!