More than once on the march had Ronald relieved Louis by carrying his heavy standard, when he was almost sinking with exhaustion; but the want of water was the chief misery endured. The supply with which they filled their wooden canteens at the public fountains of Albuquerque, Zagala, and La Nava, became during the march heated and tainted, sickly to the taste and unrefreshing. Now and then, when a spring was passed on the line of march, the soldiers, unrestrained by discipline, crowded eagerly and wildly about it, striving furiously, almost at drawn bayonets, for the first canteen-full, until the place became a clay puddle, and further contention was useless. "O for ae sough o’ the cauler breeze that blaws ower the braes o’ Strathonan!" Evan would often exclaim, as he wiped away the perspiration which streamed from under his bonnet; "or a single mouthfu’ o’ the Isla, where it rins sae cauld and deep at Corrie-avon, or the foaming swirl at the linn o’ Avondhu, for my tongue is amaist burnt to a cinder. Gude guide us, Maister Ronald, this is awfu’." "O’ds man, Iverach, if I was again on the bonnie Ochil or Lomond hills," said a Lowlander, "de’il ding me gin I wad gie ower driving sheep and stots to follow the drum." "Or staun to pe shoot at for twa pawbees ta hoor,—teevil tak’ it!" added a Gordon from Garioch. "Hear to the greedy kite!" exclaimed the Lowlander. "An Aberdonian is the chield to reckon on the bawbees." "Teevil and his tam pe on you and yours!" cried the Gordon angrily. "Oich, oich! it’s well kent that a Fife-man would rake hell for a bodle, and skin—" The commanding voice of Colonel Cameron, exclaiming, "Silence, there, number four company! silence on the march!" put an instant end to the controversy. "Hot work this, Stuart, very. Beats Egypt almost," Campbell would say, as he rode past at times. Various were the emotions which agitated Ronald’s breast, when he beheld before him the windings of the Guadiana and the well-known city of Merida, which was again in possession of the French. The jealous feeling with which he regarded Alice Lisle caused him to look forward with almost unalloyed pleasure to the expected meeting with his winning and beautiful patrona; and it was with a secret sensation of satisfaction—of triumph perhaps, of which, however, he almost felt ashamed, that he had witnessed the proud blood mantling in the cheek of young Louis, when he (Ronald) was rallied by Alister, Kennedy, and others, about his residence at Merida, and the favour he had found with Donna Catalina.