The Empecinado was in person a still finer man than Mina, but of a much less pleasing aspect. His face was stamped with savage resolution and ferocity. His appearance was strictly Spanish, his complexion being much darker than that of Mina. Both were black-haired, but the Empecinado’s was of a raven intensity of jet. He was one of the strongest men in Europe, tall and square-built--a Hercules to the eye as well as in reality. Some nearly incredible feats are recorded of his prodigious strength. The last of all was the most worthy of note, and recalls the main incident of our fine old English ballad of “Adam Bell, Clym o’ the Clough, and William of Cloudeslie.” During the fatal year of the Duke of Angoulême’s invasion, 1823, when so many Constitutionalists fell victims to Ferdinand’s gloomy ferocity, and Riego was villainously butchered at Madrid, the Empecinado was seized by the myrmidons of Absolutism at a village about twenty miles distant, caged and tortured for three days, and at the end of that time led out for execution. At the foot of the _furca_ or gallows-tree, with one effort he burst the thick cord with which his arms were bound, and seized a gun from one of the soldiers near him. Had he not been instantly slain, there is little doubt that with the butt-end he would have slaughtered a hecatomb of the satellites of power. But the whole file poured their fire into him at once, and he was hung notwithstanding, though the rope was adjusted on a corpse! The Curate Merino was distinguished for bush-fighting, and a rather treacherous and Parthian mode of assault, and his aspect corresponded with his character. His influence over his comrades was secured by promises of eternal happiness. Blanca’s figuring in childhood in the character of an angel is thus accounted for. The feast of San Sebastian is every year a great event in that ancient town. The celebration is in many respects interesting, including a procession in which female children chosen for their beauty take a very prominent part, bearing baskets of flowers, arrows typical of the martyr’s fate, and other interesting emblems. Their dresses are of the richest description--a little gaudy, to be sure, but beneath the brilliant sky of Spain this is, perhaps, excusable. They represent angels, and are provided with crowns set with mock diamonds, rubies, and topazes of the largest size, and with gauze wings bound round with gold or silver tissue. Short skirts of the ballet class, satin shoes, and white silk stockings, complete an array of splendour which excites, as may well be believed, terrific admiration in their mammas and envy in all the rest of the town. A chorus from time immemorial is sung to celebrate their progress, of which the burthen is: Vivan las niñas De San Sebastian! III. “Bartolomeo’s heights”--“Antigua’s rocks.” Convents in the vicinity of San Sebastian, which were seized by the besiegers and fortified.