Our scout returned only a couple of hours before dawn. He had experienced much difficulty in fording the Barbate, which was swollen by recent rains. He brought us the startling news, that a considerable French force had left Alcalá de los Gazules, the preceding day, to penetrate into the mountains, and was now probably in our rear, either at the Casa de Castañas or at Sanona.
It was necessary to fall back immediately. We were at the fork of the roads leading from those two places to Casa Vieja, but on which should we direct our march? My heart whispered, to the former, where my Alonzo, the last of my race, was left defenceless; but the wives and families of my companions were all at Sanona, and duty bade me hasten thither for their protection. The struggle of my feelings was severe, but short. I sent a trusty friend on a swift horse to save Alonzo, if time yet permitted, and hurried the march of my troop to the Casería. We reached it in three hours.
We found every thing as we had left it. Those who had remained there had neither seen nor heard anything of the enemy, but my son had not returned home. I now regretted not having proceeded to the Casa de Castañas, and proposed to my wearied men to march on and attack the Gavachos in their passage through the passes, fully expecting they would now direct their steps to the Casería. They acceded to my proposal with vivas. A cup of wine and a mouthful of bread were given to each, and we were off.
We had not yet gained the pass yonder, at the back of the house, when we met the man I had sent to the Casa de Castañas, coming towards us at full speed. He informed us that he had encountered the French when on his way to Las Navas, directing their march towards Casa Vieja. Fortunately escaping their observation, he had concealed himself in a thicket whilst they passed. Pepito—whom, it will be recollected, I had left with Alonzo—was walking by the side of one of their officers, undergoing a strict examination respecting our movements, &c. They had several other prisoners in charge, who were tied together in couples, but he could not distinguish Alonzo amongst them. My son’s favourite dog, Hubilon, however, brought up the rear, led by one of the marauders; and the faithful creature’s oft-averted head and restive attempts to escape, sufficiently proved that his master had been left behind.
Under this conviction, he had pushed on to the Casa de Castañas as soon as the enemy were out of sight, and had thoroughly searched every part of the building; but not a living being did it contain. The pigeons even had deserted it, or, more probably, had been sacrificed, for feathers and bones were scattered about on all sides, the smoke of numerous fires darkened the white-washed walls, and the stains of wine were left on the stone pavement, proving that the house had lately been the scene of a deep carouse.
From this account, it was evident that the Frenchmen had marched upon our track in the hope of taking us between two fires, and it was most fortunate we had returned to Sanona, instead of falling back upon the Casa de Castañas; for the superiority of their number, in a chance encounter, would have given them every advantage.
It was probable that the enemy would now continue their pursuit in hopes of taking us by surprise at Sanona; we countermarched immediately therefore, and passing the Casería, took up a strong position about two miles beyond it, on the road to Casa Vieja, where we waited for the enemy.
We were not mistaken in our supposition, for scarcely were my men posted, when the French advance appeared in sight. I allowed them to approach to within pistol shot, and gave them a volley. My men were scattered among the bushes, so that the extent of our fire made our force appear much larger than it was in reality. We killed and wounded several.
The enemy paused, and seeing by their numbers that if they pushed boldly on, resistance on our parts would be vain, I determined to try and intimidate them; and taking for this purpose eight or ten active fellows, we made our way through the brushwood which covered the hill side on our left, and opened a flank fire upon the main body of the enemy; who, imagining a fresh column had come to take part in the action, fell back in some confusion to a place of greater security, and one where they had more space to deploy their strength.
We had effectually succeeded in frightening them, however, and no further attempt was made to force our position; but it was not until the next day that they finally left the mountains and retired to their fortified posts of Casa Vieja and Alcalà.