CAPTAIN COLQUHOUN GRANT. 73 



off to the passes, and to Ciudad Rodrigo. Here lying perdue, 

 until the whole French army had passed by in march, he noted 

 every battalion and gun, and finding that all were directed towards 

 Ciudad, entered Tamames after they had passed, and discovered 

 that they had left the greatest part of their scaling-ladders behind, 

 which clearly proved that the intention of storming Ciudad Rod- 

 rigo was not real. This it was which allayed Wellington's fears 

 for that fortress. 



When Marmont afterwards passed the Coa, in this expedition. 

 Grant preceded him with intent to discover if his further march 

 would be by Guarda upon Coimbra, or by Sabugal upon Cas- 

 tello Branco ; for to reach the latter it was necessary to descend 

 from a very high ridge, or rather succession of ridges, by a pass, 

 at the lower mouth of which stands Penamacor. Upon one of 

 the inferior ridges in the pass, this persevering officer placed him- 

 self, thinking that the dwarf oaks, with which the hills were co- 

 vered, would effectually secure him from discovery; but from 

 the higher ridge above, the French detected all his movements 

 with their glasses : in a few moments Leon, whose lynx-eyes were 

 always on the watch, called out " the French ! the French ! " 

 and pointed to the rear, whence some dragoons came galloping 

 up. Grant and his follower, instantly darted into the wood for 

 a little space, and then suddenly wheeling, rode off in a different 

 direction ; yet at every turn new enemies appeared, and at last 

 the hunted men dismounted and fled on foot through the thickest 

 of the low oaks ; but again they were met by infantry, who had 

 been detached in small parties down the sides of the pass, and 

 were directed in their chase by the waving of the French officers* 

 hats on the ridge above. At last Leon fell exhausted, and the 

 barbarians who first came up, killed him in despite of his com- 

 panion's entreaties. 



Grant himself they carried, without injury, to Marmont, who 

 receiving him with apparent kindness, invited him to dinner. The 

 conversation turned upon tlie prisoner's exploits, and the French 

 marshal affirmed that he had been for a long time on the watch, 

 that he knew all his haunts and his disguises, and had discovered 

 that, only the night before, he had slept in the French head- 

 quarters, with other adventures, which had not happened, for 

 this Grant never used any disguise ; but there was another Grant, 

 a man also very remarkable in his way, who used to remain for 

 months in the French quarters, using all manner of disguises ; 

 hence the similarity of names caused the actions of both to be 

 VOL. IV. — 1834. K 



