“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.”

The Spaniard eyed me suspiciously.

“Of course,” said I, reading his thoughts, “if your master doubts me—­”

“I think, Senor McNeill, I have given you no cause to suspect it,” the Captain gravely interrupted.  “There is, however, one question I should like to ask, if I may do so without offence.  Is it your intention that I should cross in the darkness or wait for daylight?”

“We must wait for daylight; because although it increases some obvious dangers—­”

“Excuse me; your reasons are bound to be good ones.  I will fetch around my horse at once, and we shall expect you back here in five minutes.”

In five minutes time I returned to find them standing in the darkness outside the granary door.  Jose had strewn a space round about with hay; but at my command he fetched more and spread it carefully, step by step, as Captain McNeill led his horse forward.  My own arms were full; for I had spent the five minutes in collecting a score of French blankets and shirts off the hedges, where the regimental washermen had spread them the day before to dry.

The sketch on the following page will explain my plan and our movements better than a page of explanation:—­

[Illustration]