“We start back for Badajos tomorrow morning.”

“Faith, your honour, it has been so hard getting away from there, that I should not have thought you wished to put your foot inside the place again.  You might not be so lucky in getting off, next time.”

“We are going in a different way, Mike.  Colonel Crofton’s regiment of Irish dragoons is going with us, and a French infantry regiment from Toledo.”

“Then I am well content to go back, your honour, and I hope we shall see that murthering governor hung.”

“I think you have a good chance of seeing that, Mike, if he has not taken himself off before we arrive there; which I think he is pretty sure to do, directly he hears we have got through safely; for he will know that, as soon as my report is handed in, he is a lost man.”

“Bad cess to him!  At any rate, I hope I shall light upon him some day, sir, and pay him out for sending those fellows to kill you at night, and to hinder us in the hills.  As to his cheating the Spaniards, that is their business, and they can reckon with him for it; but I should like to pay our debt myself.”

“I don’t suppose there is much chance of your having an opportunity of doing that.”

“Then why are we going back, your honour?”

“To carry out my original orders, Mike—­survey the roads, and passes, and bridges.  The duke cannot rely upon Spanish testimony in these matters, and it is most important that we should ascertain, accurately, how good are the roads by which he would advance with the army into Portugal, or where best to oppose the enemy if they cross the Guadiana.”

“I am glad to hear you say so, sir, for I was afraid that we were going to have a long stay here again, and I would rather be on horseback, riding all over the country, than walking up and down these streets till my feet fairly ache.”

“That is my opinion, too, Mike.  We have had a good many rides with despatches, but between times it is stupid work, hanging about the general’s quarters waiting for orders.”

The next morning, Desmond joined Colonel Crofton’s regiment as it was on the point of starting from the barracks.  It was in the service of Spain, and had taken a brilliant part in several engagements.  Desmond was acquainted with the colonel and his officers.

“Good morning, Kennedy!” Crofton said, as he rode up and saluted him.  “I had a note from the Duke of Orleans, last night, saying you were going on special service, and would travel with us as far as Badajos.  King Philip sent for me, later on, and himself gave me instructions, besides handing me the written orders.  It seems you have discovered that the governor is mixed up, with a lot of contractors, in swindling the state by supplying earth instead of powder and flour.”