The order was carried out, and Desmond and Mike rode up with the aide-de-camp, followed closely by the four troopers.  The earl at once began to question Desmond as to the names of the villages visible up the valley.  He had remounted now, but his staff, who had dismounted when he did, remained on their feet, as it was evident that he had no intention of moving forward for some time.

While they were speaking, the earl, accompanied by Desmond, rode forward some twenty yards, as if to obtain a better view.  Mike had followed him, but the four troopers remained behind the group of officers, having no orders to follow the general so closely.

“This is good ground for galloping, Captain Kennedy,” the earl said quietly.  “You are within two miles of Badajos.”

“Thank you deeply, sir.

“Now, Mike, ride for it!” and, spurring his horse, he dashed off at a headlong gallop.

There was a shout of surprise, the officers of the staff ran to their horses, which were being held by the orderlies, and the four troopers at once galloped forward, snatching their carbines from the slings.

“Do not fire,” the earl shouted as they passed.  “Take them alive.”

As the officers came up, the general signalled to them to stop.

“Don’t go farther, gentlemen,” he said.  “The troopers will doubtless overtake them; but for aught we know, there may be a Spanish force in the village just on the other side of the frontier, and, instead of capturing two prisoners, you might be taken or shot yourself; and I am not disposed to lose any of my staff, just as we are about to commence operations in earnest.”

Desmond looked back.  He saw that only the four dragoons were following.

“They will not overtake us, Mike,” he said, “our horses are certainly better than theirs.”

Indeed, they had increased their lead fast.  A few minutes later, they heard a trumpet call in their rear, and their pursuers at once checked their horses, and rode back in answer to the recall.

“Tare an’ ages,” Mike exclaimed, “but that was nately managed.  Who would have thought that they would have let us give them the slip so easily!”

“Well, Mike—­but this you must never mention to a soul—­the earl gave us this chance of escape, I believe.  He had, you know, a long talk with me, and said that they had so many French officers captured in Flanders, that one more or less would make little difference.  He had asked about my adventures, and seemed much interested in them, and remarked that our positions were somewhat similar, both being exiles on account of our religion, and so serving in foreign armies against our own countrymen.  At any rate, it was on his suggestion that I withdrew my parole not to attempt to escape.”

“Then he is a rale gintleman, sir, and mighty obliged I feel to him, for I have had enough of English prisons, though indeed, it was only three or four days that I stopped at Harwich.”