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“I will wager a month’s pay–“

“I never bet,” Captain McNeill interrupted, as stiffly as before. “As you say, Marmont will march upon the Agueda, but in my opinion he will not assault Ciudad Kodrigo.”

“Then he will be a fool.”

“H’m! As to that I think we are agreed. But the question just now is how am I to get across the Tormes? The ford, I suppose, is watched on both sides.” I nodded. “And I suppose it will be absolutely fatal to remain here long after daybreak?”

“Huerta swarms with soldiers,” said I, “we have sixteen in the posada and a cavalry picket just behind. A whole battalion has eaten the village bare, and is foraging in all kinds of unlikely places. To be sure you might have a chance in the loft above us, under the hay.”

“Even so, you cannot hide our horses.”

“Your horses?”

“Yes, they’re outside at the back. I didn’t know there was a cavalry picket so close, and Jose must have missed it in the darkness.”

Jose looked handsomely ashamed of himself.

“They are well-behaved horses,” added the Captain. “Still, if they cannot be stowed somewhere, it is unlikely they can be explained away, and of course it will start a search.”

“Our stable is full.”

“Of course it is. Therefore you see we have no choice–apart from our earnest wish–but to cross the ford before daybreak. How is it patrolled on the far side?”

“Cavalry,” said I; “two vedettes.”

“Meeting, I suppose, just opposite the ford? How far do they patrol?”

“Three hundred yards maybe: certainly not more.”

The Captain pursed up his lips as if whistling.

“Is there good cover on the other side? My map shows a wood of fair size.”

“About half a mile off; open country between. Once there, you ought to be all right; I mean that a man clever enough to win there ought to make child’s-play of the rest.”

He mused for half a minute. “The stream is two wide for me to hear the movements of the patrols opposite. Jose has a wonderful ear.”

“Yes, Captain, I can hear the water from where we stand,” Jose put in.

“He is right,” said I, “it’s not a question of distance, but of the noise of the water. The ford itself will not be more than twenty yards across.”

“What depth?”

“Three feet in the middle, as near as can be. I have rubbed down too many horses these last three days not to know. The river may have fallen an inch since yesterday. They have cleared the bottom of the ford, but just above and below there are rocks, and slippery ones.”

“My horse is roughed. Of course the bank is, watched on this side?”

“Two sentries by the ford, two a little up the road, and the guard-house not twenty yards beyond. Captain, I think you’ll have to put on a disguise for once in your life.”

“Not if I can help it.”

“Then, excuse me, but how the devil do you propose to manage?”

He frowned at the oath, recovered himself, and looked at me again with something like a twinkle of fun in his solemn eyes.

“Do you know,” said he, “it has just occurred to me to pay you a tremendous compliment–McNeill to McNeill, you understand? I propose to place myself entirely in your hands.”

“Oh, thank you!” I pulled a wry face. “Well, it’s a compliment if ever there was one–an infernally handsome compliment. Your man, I suppose, can look after himself?” But before he could reply I added, “No; he shall go with me: for if you do happen to get across, I shall have to follow, and look sharp about it.” Then, as he seemed inclined to protest, “No inconvenience at all–my work here is done, and you are pretty sure to have picked up any news I may have missed. You had best be getting your horse at once; the dawn will be on us in half an hour. Bring him round to the door here. Jose will find straw–hay–anything–to deaden his footsteps. Meanwhile I’ll ask you to excuse me for five minutes.”