"_Santissima Casa!_ is it possible that you know not the reason, senor. _El demonio_! I thought you had ten thousand British at your back. The whole country round about is in possession of the French, and hard work we have had since we left Truxillo to escape being plundered of every maravedi. And only think, senor, what a loss I should have suffered! Why there are thirty skins of the best wine of Ciudad Real on the black mule,—_Capitana_ we call her,—she takes the lead; as many skins of the olive oil of Lebrija, the best in Spain, on the pad of the second,—_Bocaneyra_, or ’the black muzzle,’ as we name it." "The French—the French at Truxillo!" exclaimed Ronald in astonishment. "Where, then, is Sir Rowland Hill with his troops?’ "On his march for Merida, senor; and by this time many a league beyond Villa Macia. On the third mule—_Castana_ we name her, from her colour, there are twenty arrobas of corn from the Huerta of Orihuela,[*] all for the nuns of Santa Cruz, and worth in reals—" [*] The fertility of Orihuela has become a proverb among the Spaniards: "Whether there is rain or not, there is always corn at Orihuela." _Llueva, o no llueva, trigo en Orihuela_. An arroba is a measure containing a quarter of a hundred weight. "Are the enemy in great force hereabouts?" asked Ronald, who felt considerably concerned for his own safety. "Truly, senor, I know not; but their light cavalry are riding in every direction. Some say that Marshal Soult, and others that the Count D’Erlon, has entered Estremadura, and that the British are all cut to pieces." "That I do not believe." "Nor I;—no, by the bones of the Cid Campeador, ’tis not likely. But as I was saying, senor, twenty arrobas of corn—" "Twenty devils! Halt, Micer Lazaro; if you stay to tell over the inventory of your goods, you are not likely to escape the claws of the enemy, a party of whom I see on the top of the hill yonder." A volley of curses broke from the muleteers at this intelligence. A party of cavalry in blue uniform appeared on the road, descending an eminence at some distance; and the glitter of their weapons, as they flashed in the sun, was seen between the branches of the trees. Crack went the whips.