A MILITARY ADVENTURE IN THE PYRENEES.
BY A PENINSULAR MEDALLIST.
CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER XIII.
On arriving at our billet, we there found the Padre, who expressed his profound regrets at the insult offered by the villagers to my companion, and repeated his assurance that nothing of the kind should happen again.
“Señor Padre,” said I, “that is hardly sufficient. I think that people who misconduct themselves as the villagers have done, should be made sensible of their error by stringent measures.”
“This time let it pass,” said M. le Tisanier. “Should the same thing happen again, I shall hold the alcalde responsible, and shall invite him” (M. le T. twists his mustache) “to a promenade outside the village.”
The Padre was in a little bit of a fidget. We had come upon him in the kitchen, with a ladle on the stove, and sleeves turned up. He was casting bullets.
“No news of this French column,” said he; “I have been waiting about here, expecting intelligence all the morning.”
“Why not send out some of the villagers?” I asked. “They might pick up information.”
“Señor Capitan,” he replied, “I have thought of a better plan than that. You and I were to have gone out shooting to-day. Suppose we go to-morrow morning.”
“With much pleasure,” said I, “but what are we to effect by that?”