Illustration: The men leapt to their feet, cheering vociferously.
"I have been expecting you for the last month," Ryan exclaimed, "though how you were to get through the French lines was more than I could imagine. Still, I made sure you would do it, somehow."
"You gave me credit for more sharpness than I possess, Dick. I felt sure it could not be done, and so I had to go right down to Cadiz, and back to Lisbon by ship. It was a very much easier affair than ours was, and I met with no adventures and no difficulties on the way.
"Well, Herrara, I heard at headquarters that the regiment is going on well, and they fought stoutly3 at Banos. Your loss was not heavy, I hope?"
"We had fifty-three killed, and a hundred more or less seriously wounded. More than half of them have rejoined. The vacancies4 have been filled up, and the two battalions5 are both at their full strength.
"Two of the captains, Fernandez and Panza, were killed. I have appointed two of the sergeants8 temporarily, pending10 your confirmation11, on your return."
"It is well that it is no worse. They were both good men, and will be a loss to us. Whom have you appointed in their places?"
"Gomes and Mendoza, the two sergeant9 majors. They are both men of good family, and thoroughly12 know their duty. Of course I filled their places, for the time, with two of the colour sergeants."
"I suppose you have ridden from headquarters, Terence," Ryan put in, "and must be as hungry as a hunter. We were just going to sit down to a couple of chickens and a ham, so come along."
While they were taking their meal, Terence gave them an account of the manner in which he had escaped from Salamanca.
"So you were in our old quarters, Terence! Well, you certainly have a marvellous knack13 of getting out of scrapes. When we saw your horse carrying you into the middle of the French cavalry14, I thought for a moment that the Minho regiment had lost its colonel; but it was not for long, and soon I was sure that, somehow or other, you would give them the slip again. Of course I have been thinking of you as a prisoner at Ciudad, and I was afraid that they would keep a sharper watch over you, there, than they did at Bayonne. Still, I felt sure that you would manage it somehow, even without the help we had.
"What are your orders?"
"I have none, save that we are to march to Miranda, where we shall find a guerilla force under Moras; and we are to operate with him, and do all we can to attract the attention of the French. That is all I know, for I have not had time to look at the written instructions I received from the adjutant general when I said goodbye to him, last night; but I don't think there are any precise orders.
"What were yours, Herrara?"
"They are that I was to consult with Moras; to operate carefully, and not to be drawn16 into any combat with superior or nearly equal French forces; which I took to mean equal to the strength of the regiment, for the guerillas are not to be depended upon, to the smallest extent, in anything like a pitched combat."
"There is no doubt about that," Terence agreed. "For cutting off small parties, harassing18 convoys20, or anything of that sort, they are excellent; but for down-right hard fighting, the guerillas are not worth their salt. The great advantage of them is that they render it necessary for the French to send very strong guards with their baggage and convoys; and occasionally, when they are particularly bold and numerous, to despatch21 columns in pursuit of them. If it were not for these bands, they would be able to concentrate all their troops, and would soon capture Andalusia and Valencia, and then turn their attention to other work. As it is, they have to keep the roads clear, to leave strong garrisons22 everywhere, and to keep a sufficient force in each province to make head against the guerillas; for if they did not do so, all their friends would be speedily killed, and the peasantry be constantly incited24 to rise."
"Do you know anything of this Moras?"
"He is said to be a good leader," Herrara replied, "and to have gathered under him a number of other bands. He has the reputation of being less savage25 and cruel than the greater part of these partisan26 leaders; and though, no doubt, he kills prisoners--for in that he could hardly restrain his men--he does not permit the barbarous cruelties that are a disgrace to the Spanish people. In fact, I believe his orders are that no prisoners are to be taken."
"I will look at my instructions," Terence said, drawing out the paper he had received the night before.
"Yes," he said, when he had read them; "my instructions are a good deal like yours, but they leave my hands somewhat more free. I am to consult with Moras, to operate with him when I think it advisable, and in all respects to act entirely27 upon my own judgment28 and discretion29; the main object being to compel the French to detach as many men as possible from this neighbourhood, in order to oppose me; and I am to take every advantage the nature of the country may afford to inflict31 heavy blows upon them."
"That is all right," Ryan said cheerfully. "I had quite made up my mind that we should always be dependent upon Moras; and be kept inactive, owing to his refusal to carry out anything Herrara might propose; but as you can act independently of him, we are sure to have plenty of fun."
"We will make it as hot for them as we can, Dick; and if we cannot do more, we can certainly oblige the French to keep something like a division idle, to hold us in check. With the two battalions, and Moras's irregulars, we ought to be able to harass17 them amazingly; and to hold any of these mountain passes against a considerable force."
After two hours' halt the march was renewed and, two days later, the regiment arrived at Miranda. The frontier ran close to this town, the Douro separating the two countries. They learned that Moras was lying four miles farther to the north, and across the frontier line; doubtless preferring to remain in Spain, in order to prevent a quarrel between his followers32 and the Portuguese33.
The next morning Terence, accompanied by Ryan and four mounted orderlies, rode into the glen where he and his followers were lying. They had erected34 a great number of small arbours of boughs35 and bushes and, as Terence rode up to one of these, which was larger and better finished than the rest, Moras himself came to the entrance to meet them.
He did not at all correspond with Terence's ideas of a guerilla chief. He was a young man, of three or four and twenty; of slim figure and with a handsome, thoughtful face. He had been a student of divinity at Salamanca, but had killed a French officer in a duel36, brought on by the insolence37 of the latter; and had been compelled to fly. A few men had gathered round him, and he had at once raised his standard as a guerilla chief.
At first his operations had been on a very small scale; but the success that had attended these enterprises, and the reports of his reckless bravery, had speedily swelled38 the number of his followers; and although as a rule he kept only a hundred with him, he could at any time, by sending round a summons, collect five times that number, in a few hours.
When Terence introduced himself as the colonel of the two battalions that had arrived, at Miranda, to operate in conjunction with him, Moras held out his hand frankly40.
"I am very glad indeed to meet you, Colonel O'Connor," he said. "I received a despatch four days ago from your general, saying that the Minho regiment would shortly arrive at Miranda, to act in concert with me. I was glad indeed when I heard of this, for the name of the regiment is well known, on this side of the frontier as well as on the other, having been engaged in many gallant41 actions; and your name is equally well known, in connection with it; but I hardly expected to meet you, for the despatch said the Minho regiment under Lieutenant42 Colonel Herrara."
"Yes. I only rejoined it two days ago, having been taken prisoner at Fuentes d'Onoro, and having made my escape from Salamanca."
"Your aid will be invaluable43, senor. My own men are brave enough, but they are irregulars in the full sense of the word;" and he smiled. "And although they can be relied upon for a sudden attack, or for the defence of a pass, they could not stand against a French force of a quarter of their strength, in the plain. We want a backbone44, and no better one could be found than your regiment.
"I am the more glad that you are in command, because you know, unhappily, we and the Portuguese do not get on well together and, while my men would hesitate to obey a Portuguese commander, and would have no confidence in him, they would gladly accept your leadership."
"I hope that there will be no difficulties on the ground of race," Terence said. "We are fighting in a common cause, against a common enemy; and dissensions between ourselves are as absurd as they are dangerous.
"Let me introduce Captain Ryan, adjutant of the regiment."
Moras shook hands with Ryan; who had been looking on, with some surprise, at the colloquy45 between him and Terence. Moras then asked them into his arbour.
"I have little to offer you," he said, with a smile, "save black bread and wine. The latter, however, is good. I obtained a large supply of it from a convoy19 we captured, a few days since."
The wine was indeed excellent and, accustomed as they were to the coarse bread of the country, Terence and Ryan were able to eat it with satisfaction.
"Now, Colonel," Moras said, "beyond the fact that we are to act in concert, I know nothing of the plans. Please to remember that, while it is said that we are to discuss our plans of operations together, I place myself unreservedly under your orders. Of irregular warfare46 I have learned something; but of military science, and anything like extensive operations, I am as ignorant as a child; while you have shown your capacity for command. I may be of advantage to you, from my knowledge of the country; and indeed, there is not a village track that someone or other of my followers is not well acquainted with."
"That, of course, will be of great advantage to us," Terence replied courteously47, "and I thank you much for what you have said; but I am sure, from what I have heard, you underrate your abilities. Beyond regimental drill, I knew very little of warfare until I, quite by an accident, came to assume the command of my regiment; and it was only because I drilled and disciplined it thoroughly that I had the good fortune to obtain some successes with it. Your acquaintance with the country will be fully15 a set off to any superior knowledge that I may have of military matters, and I have no doubt that we shall get on well together.
"The instructions that I have received are to the effect that we are to make incursions and attacks in various directions; concealing48, as far as possible, our strength; and so to oblige the French to detach a considerable number of troops to hold us in check. This would relieve the pressure upon Lord Wellington's army, and would deter49 the enemy from making any offensive movement into Portugal; until our general has received the reinforcements expected shortly, and is in a position to take the offensive."
"It will be just the work to suit us," the guerilla chief said. "And as I received a subsidy50 from your political agent at Lisbon, a few days since, I am in a position to keep the whole force I have together; which is more than I can do generally for, even if successful in an attack on a convoy, the greater portion of the men scatter51 and return to their homes and, as long as their share of the booty lasts, they do not care to come out again."
Terence now produced a map with which he had been supplied, and a considerable time was spent in obtaining full particulars of the country through which the troops might have to march; ascertaining52 the best spots for resistance when retreating, or for attacking columns who might be despatched in pursuit of them; and in discussing the manner and direction in which their operations would most alarm and annoy the enemy.
It was finally agreed that Terence should break up his battalions into three parties. Two of these consisted each of half a battalion6, 500 strong, and would be under the command of Bull and Macwitty. Each of them would be accompanied by 300 guerillas, who would act as scouts53 and, in case opportunity should offer, join in any fighting that might take place.
The other two half battalions formed the third body, under the command of Terence, himself; and would, with the main force of the guerillas, occupy the roads between Zamora, Salamanca, and Valladolid. In this way the French would be harassed54 at several points, and would find it so difficult to obtain information as to the real strength of the foe55 that was threatening them, that they would be obliged to send up a considerable force to oppose them; and would hesitate to undertake any serious advance into Portugal until the question was cleared up, and their lines of communication assured again.
It was agreed, in the first place, that the forces should unite in the mountains west of Braganza, between the river Esla on the east and Tera on the north; affording a strong position from which, in case of any very large force mustering56 against them, they could retire across the frontier into Portugal. Terence had been supplied with money, and an authority to give orders on the paymaster's department for such purchases as were absolutely necessary. Moras was also well supplied, having not only the money that had been sent him, but the proceeds of a successful attack upon a convoy proceeding57 to Salamanca; in which he had captured a commissariat chest, with a considerable sum of money, besides a large number of cattle and several waggon58 loads of flour. All these provisions, with some that Terence had authority to draw from the stores at Miranda, were to be taken to the spot they had chosen as their headquarters in the hills.
"You beat me altogether, Terence," Ryan said as, after all these matters had been arranged, they rode out from the guerilla's camp. "It is only about three months since I saw you. Then you could only just get along in Spanish. Now you are chattering59 away in it as if you had never spoken anything else, all your life."
"Well, you see, Dick, I knew just enough, when I was taken prisoner, to be able to, as you say, get along in it; and that made all the difference to me. If I had known nothing at all of it, I should not have been able to benefit by my trip with the muleteers in Spain. As it was, I was able to talk with them and, as we rode side by side all day; and sat together by a fire for hours, after we had halted when the day's journey was over, we did a tremendous lot of talking; and as you see, I came out, at the end of the month, able to get along really fluently. I, no doubt, make a good many mistakes, and mix a good many Portuguese words with my Spanish; but that does not matter in the least, so long as one is with friends; although it would matter a good deal if I were trying to pass as a Spaniard, among people who might betray me if they found out that I was English.
"I see that you have improved in Portuguese almost as much as I have in Spanish. It is really only the first drudgery60 that is difficult, in learning a language. When once one makes a start one gets on very fast; especially if one is not afraid of making mistakes. I never care a rap whether I make blunders or not, so that I can but make myself understood."
Three days later the two bodies were assembled in a valley, about equally distant from Miranda and Braganza. It had the advantage of being entered, from the east, only through a narrow gorge61, which could be defended against a very superior force; while there were two mountain tracks leading from it, by which the force there could be withdrawn62, should the entrance be forced. A day was spent by the leaders in making their final arrangements; while the men worked at the erection of a great wall of rocks, twelve feet high and as many thick, across the mouth of the gorge; collecting quantities of stones and rocks, on the heights on either side, to roll down upon any enemy who might endeavour to scale them; while another very strong party built a wall, six feet high, in a great semicircle round the upper mouth of the gorge, so that a column forcing its way through, thus far, would be met by so heavy a fire that they could only debouch63 into the valley with immense loss.
Two hundred men of the Minho regiment, drawn from Terence's party, were to occupy the valley; with three hundred of the guerillas, who would be able to do good service by occupying the heights, while the regular infantry64 held the newly-erected walls. One of Moras' most trusted lieutenants65 was to command them while, after some discussion, it was arranged that Herrara should be in general command of the garrison23.
The brave fellow was reluctant to remain inactive; but he had been, for some time, seriously unwell, having been laid up for a time with a severe attack of dysentery; and was really unfit for any continued exertion66, although he had made light of his illness, and refused to go on the sick list. Terence pointed7 out to him that the command was a very important one. Here all the plunder67 that they might obtain from the enemy would be carried; and if, by means of spies or traitors68, the French obtained news of the situation of the post, he might be attacked in great force before the other detachments could arrive to his assistance.
As there were four thousand French troops at Zamora, it was agreed that no direct attack could be made upon the town. Bull with his force was to watch the garrison, attack any detachments that might be sent out--leaving them severely69 alone when they sallied out in force, and to content himself with outmarching their infantry, and beating off any cavalry attacks. He was, if necessary, to retreat in the direction of their stronghold.
Macwitty was to occupy the road between Zamora and Valladolid, while the main body held the roads between both the latter town, and Zamora, to Salamanca. Frequent communication was to be kept up between them, so that either column might speedily be reinforced, if necessary.
In the course of a week, the whole country was in a state of alarm. Bridges were broken down, roads blocked by deep cuttings across them, convoys attacked, small French posts at Tordesillas, Fuentelapena, and Valparaiso captured--the French soldiers being disarmed70, and then taken under an escort to within ten miles of Salamanca. Toro was entered suddenly, and a garrison of three hundred men taken by surprise, and forced to lay down their arms. The powder, bullocks, and waggons71 with their stores were sent, by circuitous72 routes, to the bridge across the Douro at Miranda, and then up to their stronghold.
So vigilant73 a watch was kept on the roads that no single courier was able to make his way from Valladolid to Salamanca or Zamora and, beyond the fact that the whole country seemed swarming74 with enemies, the French commanders were in absolute ignorance of the strength of the force that had so suddenly invaded Leon.
One day a messenger rode in from Macwitty to Fuentelapena, where Terence had his headquarters; saying that a body of 4000 French infantry, with 1000 cavalry, were on the march from Valladolid towards Zamora. Strong positions had already been selected for the defence, and a bridge broken down at a point where the road crossed a tributary75 of the Douro.
Terence at once sent Ryan with 200 men to reinforce Macwitty, and despatched several mounted messengers to find Bull, and to tell him to join him on the road, four miles to the east of the point where Macwitty was defending the passage of the river. He himself marched directly on that point, crossing the river at Tordesillas. He arrived there early in the morning, and found that the French column had passed, late the evening before.
At this point the road ran between two hills, several times crossing a stream that wound along the valley. A large number of men were at once set to work, breaking down the bridges and throwing up a breastwork along the bank, where the river made a sharp bend, crossing the valley from the foot of the hills on one side to that of those on the other. While this work was being done cannon76 shots were heard, then a distant rattle77 of musketry.
Terence knew that by this time Ryan would have joined Macwitty; and Moras at once started, with his men and 400 of the Portuguese, to threaten the French rear, and make a dash upon their baggage. Terence's orders to the officers in command of these two companies were that they were to keep their men well together, and to cover the retreat of the guerillas from cavalry attacks. The firing continued for the next hour and a half, then it suddenly swelled in volume, and amid the rattle could be heard the sound of heavy volleys of musketry.
Terence had, half an hour before, ridden forward at full speed with four mounted orderlies. When he arrived at a spot where he could survey the scene of combat, he saw that it was more serious than he had anticipated. The guerillas were falling back rapidly, but as soon as they gained the high ground they halted and opened fire upon the cavalry who, scattered78 over the plain, were pursuing them. His own men were retreating steadily79 and in good order, facing round and pouring heavy volleys into the French cavalry, as they charged them.
The French attack on Macwitty had ceased, and Terence saw bodies of infantry moving towards the right where, on rising ground, a body of troops about a thousand strong were showing themselves menacingly. He had no doubt for a moment that this was Bull's command who, hearing the firing, and supposing that Terence was engaged there, had led his command straight to the scene of action.
He at once sent an orderly back, at full gallop80, to order the men in the valley to come on at the top of their speed; and then rode along the hillside and joined Bull, who was now closely engaged with the advancing columns of French. So hot was the fire, from Bull's own men and the guerillas, that the two French battalions wavered and came to a halt; and then, breaking into skirmishing order, advanced up the hill.
"Don't wait too long, Bull," Terence said. "There is a steeper slope behind you. However, I don't think they will come up very far--not, at least, until they are reinforced. There is another body just starting, and I think we can hold on here until they join the skirmishing line. As soon as they do so, sound the order for the men to fall back."
"Where are your men, sir?"
"They are four miles away, at the spot where I told you to join me. However, the mistake is of no importance. I have sent off for them and, as soon as they arrive and show themselves, I fancy the French will retreat."
He tore out a leaf from his pocketbook, and wrote out an order to Macwitty:
"Leave Captain Ryan with his command to hold the river; and march at once, with the rest of your men, to the ford30 which we heard of, a mile down the river. Cross there, and ascend81 the hills on the French right; scattering82 your men so as to make as much show as possible, and menacing the French with attack. Tell Captain Ryan to redouble his fire, so as to prevent the French noticing the withdrawal83 of your force."
This he gave to one of his orderlies, and told him to swim the river and deliver it to Major Macwitty.
When Terence had done this, he was able to give his attention to what was passing. Across the valley his men had now ascended84 the hill, and joined the guerillas. The French cavalry, unable to charge up the heights, had fallen back. A column of French, some fifteen hundred strong, were marching in that direction.
As he had expected, the skirmishers in front of him were making but little way; evidently halting for the arrival of the reinforcement, which was still more than half a mile distant. The French gunners had been withdrawn from the bank of the river, and were taking up positions to cover the advance of their infantry; and their shot presently came singing overhead--doing no harm, however, to the Portuguese, who were lying down on the crest85 of the swell39, and keeping up a steady fire on the French skirmishers.
Ten minutes later the column was within a short distance of the line of defenders86. Terence gave the word, and his men retired87 up another and steeper slope behind; while the guerillas were ordered to remain to keep up a brisk fire, until the French were within thirty yards of the crest, and were then to run back at full speed, and join him above.
The Portuguese had scarcely taken up their position when a tremendous fire broke out below. A minute later the guerillas were seen rushing up the hill, and close behind them came the French line, cheering loudly. As they appeared the Portuguese opened fire, and with such steadiness and precision that the leading files of the French were almost annihilated88. But the wave swept upwards89 and, encouraged by the shouts of their officers, they advanced against the second position.
For half an hour an obstinate90 fight was maintained, the strength of the position neutralizing91 the effect of the superior numbers of the French. The Spaniards fought well, imitating the steadiness of the Portuguese and, being for the most part good marksmen, their fire was very deadly; and several determined92 attacks of the French were beaten off with heavy loss.
Then, from the valley below, was heard the sound of a bugle93. The call was repeated by the bugles94 of the assailants and, slowly and reluctantly, the French began to fall back.
Terence looked round. He had from time to time glanced across to the hills opposite, and had seen his men there retiring steadily, and in good order, before the assault of the French; and now he saw that his force from the valley was marching rapidly along the hilltop to their assistance; while away on the French right, Macwitty's command, spread out to appear of much greater strength than it really possessed95, was moving down the slope, as if to the assault.
Below, in the valley, a battalion of French infantry with their cavalry and artillery96 were drawn up, and were evidently only waiting for the return of the two assaulting columns, to join in their retreat. The French commander doubtless supposed that he was caught in a trap. Unable to effect the passage of the river, and seeing the stubborn resistance his troops were meeting with on the hills, the arrival of two fresh bodies of the enemy on the scene induced him to believe that the foe were in great force; and that, ere long, he might be completely surrounded. He moved forward slowly, by the road he had come, and was presently joined by the two detached parties.
As soon as they moved on, Terence sent an orderly at a gallop across the valley, to order Macwitty and Moras to follow the French along on the hills on their side of the valley, and to harass them as much as possible; while he, with Bull's command, kept parallel with them on his side.
The French cavalry kept ahead of their column. The leading battalion was thrown out as skirmishers, on the lower slopes of the hills; while the artillery, in the rear, kept up a heavy fire upon the Portuguese and Spanish, as soon as they were made out on the hills above them. Terence kept his men on the crest, and signalled to Macwitty to do the same; but the guerillas swarmed97 down the hillside, and maintained a galling98 fire on the French column. Terence took his men along at the double and, heading the column, descended99 into the valley at the point they had fortified100.
Here there was a sharp fight. The French cavalry fell back, after suffering heavily. Their infantry advanced gallantly101 and, after a fierce fight, drove the Portuguese from their wall and up the hillside. Here they maintained a heavy fire, until the column opened out and the French artillery came to the front; when Terence at once ordered the men to scatter, and climb the hill at full speed.
Without attempting to repair the broken bridges, the French infantry crossed the stream breast high, and the cavalry and artillery followed; and Terence, seeing that their retreat could not be seriously molested102, and that if he attempted to do so, he should suffer very heavily from their artillery, sounded a halt; and the French continued their retreat to Valladolid, leaving behind them all their baggage, which they had been unable to get across the stream.
Terence's force came down from the hills and assembled in the valley. Congratulations were exchanged on the success that had attended their efforts. Then the roll was at once called, and it was found that a hundred and three men of the Minho regiment were missing. There was no roll among the guerillas; but Moras's estimate, after counting the number assembled, was, that upwards of two hundred were absent from the ranks, fully half of these having been overtaken and killed by the French cavalry.
Terence at once sent off two parties of his own men, to the points where the fight had been fiercest. They were to collect the wounded, including those of the French, and to carry them down into the valley; while parties of guerillas searched the hillsides, down to the scene of action, for their comrades who had fallen from the fire of the French artillery and musketry.
When the wounded were collected, it was found there were upwards of two hundred French infantry, fifty-nine guerillas, and twenty-four Portuguese. The smaller proportion of wounded of the latter being accounted for by the fact that so many had been shot through the head, while lying down to fire at the French as they climbed the hill. Two hundred and thirty French soldiers had been killed. Terence at once set his men to dig wide trenches103, in which the soldiers of the three nationalities were laid side by side.
A considerable amount of reserve ammunition104 being captured in the waggons, the men's cartridge105 boxes were filled up again, and the rest was packed in a waggon. Some of the drivers had cut their traces, but others had neglected to do this, and there were sufficient waggons to carry all the wounded, both friends and enemies, together with a considerable amount of flour.
The French wounded were taken to the ford by which Macwitty had crossed; and then some of them who had been wounded in the leg and, although unable to walk, were fit to drive, were given the reins106 and told to take the waggons to Zamora, a distance of twelve miles. Fifty men were told off to march with them, until within sight of the town; as otherwise they would have assuredly been attacked, and the whole of the wounded massacred by the Spanish peasants.
The force then broke up again, each column taking as much flour and meat as the men could carry. The remaining waggons and stores were heaped together, and set on fire.
Long before this was done, they had been rejoined by Ryan and his command. He had remained guarding the river until the French had disappeared up the valley, and had then crossed at the ford but, though using all haste, he did not rejoin the force until the whole of the fighting was over.
"This has been a good day's work, Terence," he said when, that evening, the force had entered Tordesillas and quartered themselves there for the night. "You may be sure that the general at Valladolid will send messengers to Salamanca, giving a greatly exaggerated account of our force; and begging them to send down to Marmont, at once, for a large reinforcement. If the couriers make a detour107, in the first place, we shall not be able to cut them off."
"No, Dick, and we wouldn't, if we could. I have no doubt that he will report the force with which his column was engaged as being nearly double what it really is. Besides, sharp as we have been, I expect some messengers will, by this time, have got through from Zamora. The commandant there will report that a large force is in the neighbourhood of that town; and that, without leaving the place entirely undefended, he has not strength enough to sally out against them. They cannot know that this force and ours have joined hands in the attack on the Valladolid column, nor that this represented anything like the whole of the force that have been harrying108 the country and cutting off detached posts. The fact, too, that this gathering109 was not a mere110 collection of guerillas, or of the revolted peasantry; but that there were regular troops among them, in considerable numbers, will have a great effect; and Marmont will feel himself obliged, when he gets the news, to send some fifteen or twenty thousand troops up here to clear the country.
"Now, the first thing to do is to draw up a report of the engagement, and to send it off to Wellington. I think that it will be a good thing, Dick, for you to carry it yourself. I don't think that there is any fear of your being interrupted on your way to Miranda, and as an officer you will be able to get fresh horses, and take the news quicker than an orderly could do; and it is of great importance that the chief should know, as soon as possible, what has taken place here. I shall speak very strongly of your services during the past week, and it is always a good thing for an officer selected to carry the news of a success; and lastly, you can give a much better account of our operations, since we crossed the frontier, than an orderly could do, and Wellington may want to send orders back for our future work."
"I am game," Ryan said, "and thank you for the offer. How long will you be?"
"Well, it is eight o'clock now, and if you start at midnight it will be soon enough; so if you have finished your supper, you had better lie down on that bed in the next room and get a sleep; for you were marching all last night, and will want some rest before starting on such a journey."
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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vociferously
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| adv.喊叫地，吵闹地 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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vacancies
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| n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺 | |
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battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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sergeants
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| 警官( sergeant的名词复数 )； （美国警察）警佐； （英国警察）巡佐； 陆军（或空军）中士 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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10
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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convoys
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| n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队 | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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22
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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30
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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31
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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32
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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34
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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36
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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39
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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45
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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46
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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50
subsidy
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| n.补助金，津贴 | |
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51
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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53
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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54
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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55
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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56
mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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57
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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58
waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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59
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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60
drudgery
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| n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作 | |
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61
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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62
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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63
debouch
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| v.流出，进入 | |
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64
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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65
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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66
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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67
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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70
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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71
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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72
circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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73
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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74
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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75
tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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76
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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77
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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79
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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80
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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81
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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82
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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83
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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84
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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86
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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87
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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88
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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89
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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90
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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91
neutralizing
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| v.使失效( neutralize的现在分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化 | |
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92
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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93
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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94
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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95
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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96
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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97
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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98
galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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99
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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100
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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101
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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102
molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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103
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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104
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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105
cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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106
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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107
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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108
harrying
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| v.使苦恼( harry的现在分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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109
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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110
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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