[*] It will end in smoke,—a Spanish saying. "Do you mock us, rascal?’ "No, cavalier; but no true Spaniard likes to be questioned thus imperiously." "You speak somewhat boldly for a priest. But daylight is already breaking, and we must retire into concealment, or abandon the attempt altogether. Point out some track by which we may retreat, or, priest and Spaniard as you are, I will order a drum-head court-martial, and have you shot as a traitor and spy, or leaguer with the enemy." "_Gracios excellenze!_" urged the padre. "Your entreaties are of no avail. You have deceived us with the usual treachery of your nation, false monk!" "By _San Juan_ I have not, general! The robe I wear, and the letter of the corregidor of Merida, sufficiently attest my veracity. I have erred through ignorance, not intention." "I pray it may be so," said Sir Rowland in a kinder tone. "God forbid I should wrong an honest man! But where lies the village of Almarez—" At that moment the flash of a cannon a long way down the mountains, among whose shattered peaks the report was reverberated, answered the question. By the time which elapsed between the sight of the flash and the sound of the report, it seemed to be fired about a mile distant. "The morning gun,—that is Almarez," muttered the soldiers. "_Caballeros y soldados!_" cried the priest with sudden energy, "I have been no traitor, as you seem to suppose me. In truth I knew not the road,—by San Jago de Compostella I did not! To-morrow night, without fail, I will guide you to the gates of Almarez. I tell you this as truly as that every maravedi of my reward shall go to the shrine of my good Lady of Majorga, whom some rogues have lately plundered of her robes." "Unhand his bridle," said Sir Rowland; "I must believe him. Major, what think you?’ "There is no alternative," replied the major of brigade; "but as the regulations say, ’Guides cannot be too jealously watched;’ and again in page—" "’Tis a waste of time to expound the regulations to a man, whose knowledge is confined to his bible and mass-book," replied the general with a smile. "We will retire up the mountains, and lie concealed till favoured again by the darkness. Let the column break into sections, and move off left in front. Colonel Cameron, your Highlanders will lead the way." A solitary place of concealment was gained among the rugged mountains of the Lina, where the bivouac was hidden from the sentinels on the castle of Miravete.