Lady Mabel remarked.

"And in one sense the most unfortunate Spaniard of our day," added
L'Isle. "Of the highest rank among subjects, uniting in his person
names famous in Spanish history; he was brave and patriotic, and
though still young, one of the few Spanish leaders whose enterprize
did not lead to disaster. But the Supreme Junta, in its jealousy would
never entrust him with any but subordinate commands, subjecting him to
the orders of Castanos Cuesta, and other inefficient leaders whose
blunders his good conduct often covered. When, at length Andalusia was
lost by the folly and cowardice of others, he only had his wits about
him, and by a speedy march saved Cadiz. The rabid democrats of the
city repaid him with ingratitude and insults, which drove him into
exile; and, denied the privilege of falling in defence of his country,
he died broken-hearted in a foreign land."

"Are these people worth fighting for?" exclaimed Lady Mabel,
indignantly, reining back her horse, as if about to abandon her
Spanish allies to their own folly.

"Perhaps not," said L'Isle, "if we were not also fighting for
ourselves. Spain is a convenient field on which to drub the
French. But it is time to follow our party."

They now left the hill and getting back into the road, galloped after
their friends, but did not overtake them until they had reached the
little river Cayo, which here divides Portugal from Spain. The ladies,
on their mules, were grouped together in doubt and hesitation on this
bank, while several of the gentlemen were riding about in the water,
searching for holes in the bed of the stream, which was swollen and