I do not know whence it came about, but the further we removed from the Portuguese frontier the less kind the Spaniards, as a people, showed themselves towards us. At Segovia, for example, the inhabitants, though they provided their countrymen with good things of every sort, brought little or nothing to us; and we were reduced, in consequence, to subsist as well as we could upon our scanty allowance of very indifferent bread. It was but natural that the consideration of this fact should not be without its effect upon us. We began first to envy and then to dislike our companions in exile; and seeing them flush of money, while we ourselves were penniless, the idea gradually matured itself, "Why should not we, by fair means or by foul, share in their abundance?" When men are suffering real privations, and there are profusion and waste all around them, the moralist may say what he will, but they don't readily listen to the voice which would whisper of self-denial, and patience, and abstinence. We soon discovered, for instance, that the Spanish prisoners had large sums of money at their command, which they squandered continually in gambling, as if it had been applicable to no other use than that of keeping alive a violent excitement among them. I have often seen as many as forty or even sixty dollars on the ground at a time, for which different groups were tossing, and which changed hands over and over again, according as the guess of this or that speculator proved to be correct. At first we were mere spectators of the pastime; but, by-and-by, we began to argue that the money would be at least as well applied in the purchase of a few necessaries for us, as it seemed to be in the encouragement of an idle and profitless spirit of gambling among our allies. Accordingly, having watched till a tolerably rich treasure cumbered the surface of the earth, about a dozen of us suddenly broke the ring and began to help ourselves, without compunction, to the dollars and other coins that lay scattered around us. The Spaniards, of course, raised a clamour, but they attempted nothing more; while the French, instead of interfering in their behalf, only laughed at them. The result was, that, for several days, we had tobacco to our pipes, and onions to eat with our bread, while the gamblers, if not cured, were rendered a few degrees more cautious in the exhibitions which they made both of their wealth and their cupidity.

In this manner we proceeded as far as Valladolid, where, numbers falling sick, and many more becoming lame through exertion, a halt of three days was permitted. It sufficed to fill the hospitals with invalids--few of whom, I have reason to believe, ever quitted them alive. But, however this may be, all who were in a fit state to travel marched, on the fourth day, to Burgos--whence a moderate stage carried us to Sallada, overwhelmed by the oppressive heat of the weather and stifled with dust. Here an event befel, of which, as it gave an entirely novel colouring to the whole of my after fate, I feel myself, in some measure, required to give a somewhat detailed account.

When thrust back into the common prison-house, I had been deprived, by the escort, of the few articles of wearing apparel which Joseph had procured for me, and was now, in consequence, more squalid and torn than ever. I had no jacket at all--only a waistcoat out at the elbows; no shirt, no stockings, no cap: indeed, I was altogether as perfect a representation of abject poverty as the fancy of the most fanciful could well describe. In this condition I entered Sallada, and went with my comrades, to the prison yard, into which, by-and-by, came several French and English officers, the latter, prisoners like ourselves, though, of course, in better plight; and as it seemed, much thought of by their captors.

Among others, there drew near a gentleman in the uniform of a regiment of Lancers--a man evidently of rank and consequence, whom a considerable personal staff attended, and who appeared to have some object to gain by his visit. I saw him stop beside a man of the 13th; and, by means of an interpreter who bore him company, enter with that person into conversation. Not knowing why I did so, I listened to what passed between them, and found that the foreigner was desirous of engaging the Englishman to serve him as groom, and that the Englishman, though not personally averse to the arrangement, stated a fact which at once stood in the way of its completion. He told the interpreter that he was married and had a family; upon which that personage, though with great kindness, stated that, with a man so circumstanced, the count was not desirous of entering into an engagement. He had scarcely said so, when his own and his employer's eyes falling upon me, both approached, and the interpreter opened with me the same subject. I was completely taken by surprise. I assured him that I neither could nor would listen to any such proposition, but was determined to share my comrades' fate, be it what it might, till, by the course of a regular exchange, we should be enabled to return to our regiment. It is not worth while to fatigue the reader's patience by describing how both the count and the interpreter pressed the point; for the officer of rank proved to be the German Count Goltstein, who was at that time at the head of the Lanciers de Bourg, in the service of Napoleon. But the results were, in a few words, these. I believe that I should have stood out against all his proposals, though they were both numerous and liberal, had not an English officer, who overheard the dialogue, interfered to set aside my scruples. He assured me that, if I was afraid of being compelled to take up arms against my own country, I laboured under a very groundless species of alarm; that the Count Goltstein was a man of honour--far more attached at heart to the English than to the French; and who, let happen what might, would not only not urge, but never permit, my passing into the ranks of the enemy. Finally, he and the interpreter set such tempting offers before me, that I did not know how to refuse them. I was to be at the head of the stables; to have charge especially of an English thorough-bred mare; to be well fed, well clothed, well looked after, and to receive as wages, or pocket-money, call it which you may, one guinea per month. Surely I am not to blame for having accepted this engagement, when the sole choice submitted to me was between its acceptance, and my continuance for some indefinite, yet, without doubt, protracted, space of time, a prisoner of war. But, be this as it may, I did accept it; and I am bound to add that I never found any just cause to repent of the decision.

A sorrowful scene was that which occurred between me and my fellow-captives, when I returned the same day to the place of confinement to bid them farewell. Some envied, others pitied, but all grieved to lose me; and my own heart bled as I squeezed their hands--not knowing whether I should ever be permitted to do so again. Yet I cherished. the hope that, in my new situation, opportunities of serving them might occur, from which I secretly resolved that I should never turn away; and I thank God that I kept the resolution. Meanwhile, however, the count's interpreter, who bore me company, was beginning to exhibit symptoms of impatience.

"The count's quarters," said he, "are in a village two good leagues distant, and it is absolutely necessary that we should reach them before dark."

"But how shall we do that, sir?" replied I; "have marched six. leagues to-day already, and no consideration on earth would induce me to walk half a league farther."

"I do not wish you to walk;" answered he; and then he went on to explain, that if a horse of any kind were to be had in the village, he would procure it for me, though the arrangement might not, it appeared, be without its difficulties, owing to the alarm of the Spaniards in this quarter, who invariably abandoned their houses on the approach of a French force. The result, however, was, that he did procure me an animal,--a long-legged, sharp-boned mule, which he took away from a countryman when working it in a plough; and on the sharp back of which he mounted me. And thus, riding between him and his chief, (for the count himself, at the head of a troop of his lancers, waited for us in the outskirts of the village,) I made my way to my new quarters, not without having an endless variety of questions put to me respecting the strength and disposition of the English army; all of which I answered as vaguely and on as magnificent a scale as possible. But these are points on which it is scarcely worth while to touch. What can a private soldier know of the true condition of a force in which he is a mere unit? or if he did, how can the querist suppose that he will communicate his knowledge in its simplicity?

We reached the village where the Lanciers de Bourg were stationed, about nine o'clock in the evening; and I was immediately directed to the count's stables, where I was given to understand that I should find a person who was capable of conversing with me in my own language. I proceeded to the place pointed out, and was a good deal struck both with the size and excellence of the stud, and the richness of the furniture, which was scattered somewhat carelessly about the stables. But the object which chiefly attracted my attention was a pot-bellied, rubicund, and evidently half-sober man, who no sooner turned his fish-like eyes upon me, than he hailed me with the exclamation, "How do you do, countryman? You be welcome!" I could perceive, from the peculiarity of his accent, that my new acquaintance was not English; and I very soon heard from himself that he was German: that he had served in England as a private in Hompeshe's Dragoons, whence, on the dissolution of the corps, he had returned home, and passed into the count's service: for the count' estates lay round the village of which he was a native; and, unless my memory deceive me, he was himself the son of one of the count's baurmen. Moreover, I heard him, with infinite pleasure, launch out in praise of our master's generosity and honour; which came upon mine ear the more agreeably, that I did not listen to it fasting,--for my worthy comorado produced his cold tongue and his flagon of wine, both of which passed away famously; till, by-and-by, a sense of drowsiness quite overpowered me, and I besought him to point out a place where I might lie down. He was not backward in doing this. He called a servant, ordered him to make a bed for me in a room adjoining his own; and conducting me thither, pointed out a comfortable palliasse, on which I lost no time in throwing myself. In less than five minutes I was fast asleep.

I do not know how long I may have lain in a state of unconsciousness, when the touch of a soft hand applied to one of my feet, which was covered with blisters, awoke me. There was a light in my room, which, on partially opening my eyes, I ascertained to proceed from a chamber-lamp, which a venerable-looking hidalgo, with hair white as snow, was holding in his hand, for the benefit of two young maidens in their labour of Christian charity. These gentle creatures were both employed in washing and dressing the feet and legs of me--an entire stranger. One, indeed, they had already rendered comfortable, by cleansing it thoroughly, and swathing it in soft linen, while I was asleep: the other they were now in the act of mollifying; and tender as their touch was, even it broke in upon my rest, so lacerated was the member, and by long travel so impregnated with fragments of gravel and thorns. How shall I describe the delicacy and gentleness with which these high-born maidens extracted both from my flesh! And then they whispered words of commiseration and charity, which they would not utter aloud, because they feared to awaken me. I declare that I could scarcely credit my own senses, so entirely did the scene resemble the delusion of a dream. But the old gentleman, by-and-by, discovered that I was not asleep; and then the ladies, with natural modesty, stepped back, till he had reassured and urged them to their generous task again. The results were, that my bruised and torn limbs were thoroughly cleaned, and bandaged with the softest and finest linen; and that my benefactors pressed upon me a cup of chocolate, with some sweet cakes: after consuming which, I placed my head once more upon the pillow. And then--and not till then--the Spaniards withdrew.

I never saw these kind people again. I do not even know their names; nor can I guess at the motive which urged them thus to exercise, in my case, feelings of benevolence, which were manifestly congenial to their nature. But I suspect that they mistook me for a prisoner newly taken; and that their sympathies were the more powerfully awakened by the idea that I was suffering all the bitterness attendant on a recent blight of my prospects. Be this, however, as it may, I heartily blessed them in my prayers that night,--and often bless them now, when the remembrance of their kindness come over me. Doubtless they have had, and will continue to have, their reward.

I felt so comfortable after the dressing of my legs, and slept so soundly, that it was broad daylight when I awoke; which indeed might not have occurred even then, had not my German friend Kruger called me. He had evidently been drinking, and seemed somewhat impatient for the lack of my society; for he desired me to get up without any further delay, unless I were willing to go without my dinner. Now, the very sound of the word had been so long strange in my ear, that I experienced no desire at all to neglect the opportunity of improving it; I therefore rose at his bidding, and putting on the fragments of apparel of which I could yet boast the possession, I accompanied him to an apartment, in which the whole of the count's servants were assembled. At the end of the table sat his valet or steward; next to him the coachman; then the cook,--the very beau ideal of his nation, thin and spare, with sharp features, and a white linen cap upon his head; and by-and-by, as each could find a place, grooms, stable-boys, and menials of humbler degree. To me the seat of honour was assigned, on the right hand of the valet; for Kruger led me there as his friend, and no one showed the slightest inclination to resist or resent the intrusion; and the consequence was, that throughout the progress of the meal, I felt that there were few lots in life with which mine could be exchanged, except at a disadvantage. For my fellow-servants vied with one another in heaping civilities upon me, and in loading my plate with the most delicate morsels. Then, again, the wine was both good and abundant; we had our pipes and tobacco, with which to sum up all, and we sat conversing by means of signs, for not one word of each other's language could we utter, till nearly ten o'clock at night. At last, however, the party broke up; after which Kruger, so completely disguised that he could no longer articulate, yet sober enough to point out a horse which was intended for my riding during the march of the morrow, rolled himself on his straw, and left me to retire to my pleasant palliasse at my leisure.

When I awoke next morning, I found, somewhat to my chagrin, that the march was already begun. The count, and all his household, indeed, were gone; and on hurrying to the stable, I ascertained that the last of the grooms, after sending off the baggage, were about to follow. They had reserved, indeed, for me, my own horse; neither did Kruger appear to have forgotten me, inasmuch as a great coat and foraging cap were laid, so as to attract my notice, in the hall. But Kruger, like all the rest, seemed to have given me the slip, whether because his own duties engrossed him, I cannot tell. To say the truth, however, the consideration of this point occupied very little of my attention. I harnessed my steed--a Spanish jennet, and not a bad one; I took a long pull at the skin of wine, which, by this time more than half exhausted, stood in a corner of Kruger's dormitory; and, vaulting into the saddle, began my journey, I knew not whither, in a frame of mind by many degrees more joyous than I had experienced since the day of my capture.

It was a bright, clear, sunny day, and I enjoyed my excursion extremely. Of my own corps,--if, indeed, the expression be allowable, when speaking of the regiment of Lancers which my master commanded,-I saw nothing throughout the day; but I overtook, soon after clearing the village, a column of French infantry, which served me in some sort as a guide, though from time to time rather provokingly. The French, when marching will not allow any persons, except officers, to pass the heads of their columns; I was therefore stopped when making the attempt to get before the infantry, and had nothing for it, except to regulate my pace by theirs. Yet, I was very happy notwithstanding; and made an excellent meal, without dismounting, off the half of a cold fowl, which honest Kruger had stuffed into my great-coat pocket. Finally, at the end of about four or five hours, I reached the outskirts of a large town, on the bridge that led to which a serjeant of the Lancers was standing, who immediately recognising my horse, made signs to me to follow, while he should lead the way to the quarter in which the count had established himself. I need scarcely add that I obeyed the signal with good will: to what purpose, the reader, if his patience be not exhausted, will learn in the next chapter.