Produced by Al Haines. *THE ROMANCE OF WAR:* OR, THE HIGHLANDERS IN SPAIN BY JAMES GRANT, ESQ. _Late 62nd Regiment._ "In the garb of old Gaul, with the fire of old Rome, From the heath-covered mountains of Scotia we come; Our loud-sounding pipe breathes the true martial strain, And our hearts still the old Scottish valour retain." _Lt.-Gen. Erskine._ IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1846. LONDON: PRINTED BY MAURICE AND CO., HOWFORD BUILDINGS, FENCHURCH STREET. *CONTENTS* Chapter I. Castello Branco II. The Major’s Story III. Another Night at Merida IV. The Out-picquet V. The Flag of Truce VI. Almarez VII. D’Estouville VIII. Catalina IX. The Matador X. El Convento de Santa Cruz XI. A Single Combat XII. The Curate’s Story XIII. An Arrest XIV. De Mesmai XV. The Heights of Albuera. The Cross of Santiago XVI. The March to Toledo *THE ROMANCE OF WAR.* *CHAPTER I.* *CASTELLO BRANCO.* "Yet since thou wilt an idle tale of mine, Take one which scarcely is of worth enough To give or to withhold. Our time creeps on; Fancy grows colder, as the silvery hair Tells the advancing winter of our life: But if it be of worth enough to please, That worth it owes to her who set the task; If otherwise, the fault rests with the author." _Macduff’s Cross.—Prelude._ "Well, Ronald, my _bon camarado_, and so you are really here, and in safety?" said Macdonald as he came up at the head of his sub-division. "Quite well now, I perceive. You received my letter from your servant, of course?" "Yes. I have a thousand strange adventures to tell you of; but I will reserve them for the halt, which I suppose will be at the castle of Zagala. But meanwhile, let me hear the regimental news." "Defer that till the halt also,—talking is dry work. A few rank and file were knocked on the head at Fuente del Maistre; but the officers, you may see, are all present. We feared you were on your route for France, when we heard that Dombrouski’s dragoons were in Merida." "A daring deed it was, for a handful of men to advance thus." "Daring indeed!"