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“Gently, Jose.” He let out a soft pleased laugh while he studied my face. Then he spoke a word or two in Gaelic–some question which I did not understand.

“My name is McNeill,” said I; “but that’s the end of my mother tongue.”

The Captain laughed again. “We’ve caught the other one, Jose,” said he. And Jose helped me to my feet–respectfully, I thought. “Now this,” his master went on, as if talking to himself, “this explains a good deal.”

I guessed. “You mean that my presence has made the neighbourhood a trifle hot for you!”

“Exactly; there is a General Order issued which concerns one or both of us.”

I nodded. “In effect it concerns us both; but, merely as a matter of history, it was directed against me. Pardon the question, Captain, but how long have you been within the French lines?”

“Three days,” he answered simply; “and this is the third night.”

“What? In that uniform?”

“I never use disguises,” said he–a little too stiffly for my taste.

“Well, I do. And I have been within Marmont’s cantonments for close, on three weeks. However, there’s no denying you’re a champion. But did you happen to notice the date on the General Order?”

“I did; and I own it puzzled me. I concluded that Marmont must have been warned beforehand of my coming.”

“Not a bit of it. The order is eight days old. I secured a copy on the morning it was issued; and the next day, having learnt all that was necessary in Salamanca, I allowed myself to be hired in the market-place of that city by the landlord of this damnable inn.”

“I disapprove of swearing,” put in Captain McNeill, very sharp and curt.

“As well as of disguises? You seem to carry a number of scruples into this line of business. I suppose,” said I, nettled, “when you read in the General Order that the notorious McNeill was lurking disguised within the circle of cantonments, you took it that Marmont was putting a wanton affront on your character, just for the fun of the thing?”

“My dear sir,” said the Captain, “if I have expressed myself rudely, pray pardon me: I have heard too much of you to doubt your courage, and I have envied your exploits too often to speak slightingly of your methods. As a matter of fact, disguise would do nothing, and worse than nothing, for a man who speaks Spanish with my Highland accent. I may, perhaps, take a foolish pride in my disadvantage, but,” and here he smiled, “so, you remember, did the fox without a tail.”

“And that’s very handsomely spoken,” said I; “but unless I’m mistaken, you will have to break your rule for once, if you wish to cross the Tormes this morning.”

“It’s a case of must. Barring the certainty of capture if I don’t, I have important news to carry–Marmont starts within forty-eight hours.”

“Since it seems that for once we are both engaged on the same business, let me say at once, Captain, and without offence, that my news is as fresh as yours. Marmont certainly starts within forty-eight hours to assault Ciudad Rodrigo, and my messenger is already two hours on his way to Lord Wellington.”

I said this without parade, not wishing to hurt his feelings. Looking up I found his mild eyes fixed on me with a queer expression, almost with a twinkle of fun.

“To assault Ciudad Rodrigo? I think not.”

“Almeida, then, and Ciudad Rodrigo next. So far as we are concerned the question is not important.”

“My opinion is that Marmont intends to assault neither.”

“But, my good sir,” I cried, “I have seen and counted the scaling-ladders!”

“And so have I. I spent six hours in Salamanca itself,” said the Captain quietly.

“Well, but doesn’t that prove it? What other place on earth can he want to assault? He certainly is not marching south to join Soult.” I turned to Jose, who had been listening with an impassive face.

“The Captain will be right. He always is,” said Jose, perceiving that I appealed to him.