164 TRAVEL, ADVENTUEE, AND SPORT. 



that you have thus treacherously surprised and disarmed 

 men who, had they been aware of your intention, 

 would have given ample occupation to you and the 

 whole of your forces. You have, for the moment, 

 deprived your country of two thousand defenders, 

 the least worthy of whom is a better man than, ever 

 crossed your saddle. We shall not attempt a resist- 

 ance which now would be absurd, but you will have 

 to answer to the Junta of Cadiz for your treason.'"' 



The Cura smiled scornfully, but made no reply. 

 Marquinez, after gazing steadfastly at him for a 

 moment, turned upon his heel ; and leading, or rather 

 dragging along, Principe by the arm, left the plaza. 

 The same day Merino marched out of Ayllon, taking 

 with them nearly a thousand horses, and a large 

 number of muskets, sabres, and other arms. 



Marquinez and Principe had been sergeants in the 

 Spanish regiment of Bourbon. They were of humble 

 extraction, and Marquinez had, in his youth, been a 

 barber at Madrid. Both men of great intrepidity 

 and of some military talent, those qualifications availed 

 them little at a period when wealth and family 

 interest were the surest, if not the only stepping-stones 

 to advancement in the Spanish army; and our two 

 sargentos instruidos left the service with the humble 

 chevrons which their merits had procured them soon 

 after their arrival under the colours, but which they 

 had no hope of exchanging for the epaulette of a 

 commissioned officer. At the commencement of the 



