“Then, General,” Desmond said, with a smile, “I should say that your investigations are hardly satisfactory.”

The general also smiled.

“Not so much so as I could wish,” he said.  “And now, may I ask why, seeing that you are well mounted, you did not turn and ride for it, when you first perceived us?”

“The reason is simple, General.  A squadron of cavalry were coming up behind me, and there was evidently no possibility of escape.”

“No doubt they were sent out to meet me.  Well, sir, if you will give me your word not to attempt to escape, you can retain your sword, and ride with us.”

“I give my parole, sir, with many thanks for your courtesy.”

“And now, Captain Kennedy,” the other went on, “it is probable that you have, about you, the result of your investigations along these roads, which I must request you to hand to me; as it may be as useful, to me, as it would have been to the Duke of Orleans, and may save me a good deal of trouble.”

Desmond took out the notebook in which he had, each day, jotted down the result of his observations, with suggestions as to the points where repairs were most needed.  He had each night, on his return to Badajos, written up his reports from these, intending, when he had completed the work, to take it himself to Madrid.

The general glanced through the notebook.

“You have done your work very thoroughly, Captain Kennedy, and have rendered me considerable service.  Now, we will move forward again.  Please follow with my aides-de-camp.”

These were two pleasant young men, who were glad of a talk with an officer from the other side.

“How long have you been riding about here, if it is fair to put the question?” one said.

As the notebook contained all the particulars of his journeys on that side of the frontier, Desmond replied at once: 

“Eight days, I think.  I have been up the road to Portalegre, and by that to Lavre; and if I had not, unfortunately, accidentally heard of this road over the mountains, I should now be on my way to Madrid; but luck has been against me.”

“Promotion must be very rapid in your army,” the other aide-de-camp said, “or you would hardly be a captain already.”

“I was fortunate enough to attract the notice of the King of France, and the Duke of Berwick, on various occasions, and when one has such a piece of good fortune as that, promotion is rapid.”

“It is lucky for you that you fell into the hands of the Earl of Galway, instead of into those of the Portuguese generals, who would probably, in spite of your uniform, have made short work of you.”

“I did not know that the general was the Earl of Galway,” Desmond said.  “Certainly, it was lucky that I fell into his hands.  Indeed, if I had not seen the English uniforms, I should have turned and charged the squadron behind us; preferring very much to be killed fighting, than to be hanged or shot like a dog.”