10 Scenes in Spain. 



and intersected by numerous streamlets through which the men 

 waded, in their impatience to get into quarters, after a fatiguing march 

 of more than thirty miles. 



The greater part of the men, as usual in such cases, were marched 

 into the church ; just outside of which, in an adjoining shed, the main- 

 guard was stationed. After seeing my company as comfortably settled 

 as circumstances would admit of, and the rations of meat (cut from a 

 miserable bullock not half an hour killed, and yet warm and quivering) 

 served out, I turned my attention to my own case, and immediately set 

 about seeking a "billet." I saw the principal part of the officers, 

 exhausted and powerless, lying in little groups apart from the men, 

 some rolled in their cloaks asleep under the trees, others superintend- 

 ing the*lighting of fires and cooking of their rations by their servants ; 

 but few exerting themselves in procuring better quarters than the 

 canopy of heaven the weather, indeed, was delightfully mild for the 

 month of November, and more like what is called in America the " In- 

 dian summer" than any we experience in England. I was gene- 

 rally more careful in this respect ; and where there was any possibility 

 of getting under a roof, no matter how humble, I spared neither time 

 nor trouble in effecting it. The next morning, I had generally reason 

 to congratulate myself on my attention to this particular, when, turn- 

 ing out after a refreshing night's rest, I would behold my less provi- 

 dent comrades stiff, cold, and damp, from exposure to the heavy dew 

 of the morning. 



Upon this occasion I was, as usual, successful. The house I selected, 

 had formerly been the habitation of some family of note ; as was evi- 

 dent by the sculptured arms over the portal, and the extent and even 

 elegance of the rooms they were, however, totally bare offurniture, 

 with the exception of beds in the alcoves, and a few cracked pucheros, 

 or earthenware pipkins in the kitchen. A company of Chapelgorris* 

 had taken possession of the chief part of the house, and were busily 

 employed in the kitchen and in the courtyard, cooking their dinners. 

 I managed however to secure a bed in one of the alcoves, and des- 

 patched my servant to notify the same to a brother officer, with an 

 invitation to share it with me. In a few minutes after, he returned, 

 and with him my friend whom he had discovered, with his usual impro- 

 vidence, wrapped in his cloak beneath a tree, quietly enjoying a cigar, 

 and with great placidity awaiting the coming up of his servant, who 

 had fallen out in the latter part of the march from fatigue. 



After giving plentiful directions to my lad relative to our expected 

 dinner, and with strict injunctions to wake me when it was ready, I 

 determined to follow the example of C., who, directly he caught sight 

 of the bed, had tumbled in, and was already fast asleep. Unbutton- 

 ing my shell jacket, and disencumbering myself of my sword and pistols, 

 which I placed carefully alongside, I made preparations for turning in 

 likewise. Happening, however, to cast a glance at the sheets, I drew 

 back with a shudder of disgust they appeared perfectly white at a 

 little distance, though coarse and rough, but on a nearer inspection, 



* A species of Guerrilla or irregular troops on the side of the Queen, so called 

 from their wearing red caps. 



