He was about to say something further, when O'Flanagan, seeing the young girl come into the room to clear away the breakfast things, at once began talking to her; and as it was only too evident that he wanted the field to himself, for he was obviously head over ears in love, Ralph got up and announced his intention of taking a walk round the premises. "Don't go in the wood, Señor, whatever you do," the girl observed, "for it is infested with brigands. They do not interfere with us because we were once good to one of their sick folk--and the Spaniard, brigand though he may be, never forgets a kindness--but they attack strangers, and you will be well advised to keep to the high road." "Which is the nearest town?" Ralph demanded. "Trijello," the girl answered, the same curious expression creeping into her eyes that had puzzled Ralph so much before, and which he found impossible to analyse. "It is about eight miles from here. Don Hervado, the Governor, is a Carlist, and was entertaining some Carlist soldiers there yesterday." "Good!" Ralph exclaimed. "I will walk there. Will you come with me, Dick, or will you wait here till I return. I don't suppose I shall be back much before the evening." "Oh, don't hurry," O'Flanagan laughed, eyeing the girl rapturously, "I am perfectly happy here, and want a rest badly. Don't, whatever you do, let on to anyone connected with headquarters where we are. Let them go on imagining, for a while, we are dead." "The Señors have been in a battle, yes?" the girl interrupted, shyly. "A battle," O'Flanagan laughed, "not half one. Why, we were taken prisoners and only escaped hanging through my unparalleled wits and perseverance. However, I don't in the least bemoan the perils and hardships we have undergone, for, had events turned out otherwise, we should never have had the joy of seeing you, Señora," and catching hold of her hand, before she could prevent him, he pressed it fervently to his lips, smothering it with kisses. Thinking it was high time to be off, Ralph now took his departure. A couple of hours' walking brought him to Trijello, where, but for a lucky incident, he might have found himself landed in a quandary. As he was entering the outskirts of the town he met an old peasant, staggering under a sack of onions, and no sooner did the latter catch sight of his uniform than he at once called out: "Señor, if you value your liberty, you won't enter Trijello in that costume. The Governor is the sworn enemy of all Carlists, and has given strict orders that, anyone with leanings towards that party shall be put under arrest at once." "Are you sure?" Ralph exclaimed. "Why, I was told it was just the other way about, and that he was a strong adherent of our cause."