The day was dark and gloomy, and the steep path slippery from rain, so that the mules bearing the stores toiled with difficulty up the ascent. At first, my grandfather and Owen indulged in cheerful conversation; but shortness of breath soon reduced the Major to monosyllables, and the latter part of the journey was accomplished in silence. Frequently the Major paused and faced about, at once to look at the prospect and to take breath. Far below, on his right, was seen the southern end of the town, consisting partly of a heap of ruins, with here and there a rafter sticking out of the mass, partly of roofless walls, among which was occasionally heard the crashing of shot; but the guns that discharged them, as well as those that replied from the town, were invisible from this point. Directly beneath him the ground afforded a curious spectacle, being covered with tents, huts, and sheds, of all sorts and sizes, where the outcast population of the ruined town obtained a precarious and insufficient shelter. The only building visible which still retained its former appearance was the convent—the governor’s residence—which was protected by bomb-proofs, and where working-parties were constantly engaged in repairing the injuries. The bay, once thickly wooded with masts and dotted with sails, was now blank and cheerless; only the enemy’s cruisers were visible, lying under the opposite shore of Spain.
Owen and my grandfather arrived at the mouth of the cave somewhat in advance of the convoy. To their surprise a smoke was issuing from it; and, as they approached nearer, their nostrils were greeted by an odour at once savoury and spicy. Going softly up they looked in.
Mr Bags and a couple of friends were seated round a fire, over which was roasting a small pig, scientifically butchered and deprived of his hair, and hung up by the heels. The fire, in the absence of other fuel (of which there was an extreme scarcity in Gibraltar), was supplied by bundles of cinnamon plundered from the store of some grocer, and, as the flame waxed low, Mr Bags took a fresh bundle from a heap of that fragrant spice by his side, and laid it on the embers. Mrs Bags was occupied in basting the pig with lard, which she administered from time to time with an iron ladle.
Presently Mr Bags tapped on the pig’s back with his knife. It sent forth a crisp crackling sound, that made my grandfather’s mouth water, and caused Mr Bags to become impatient.
“Polly,” said he, “it’s my opinion it’s been done these three minutes. I can’t wait much longer.”
And he cast a glance at the other two soldiers (in whom, as well as in Bags, Owen recognised men of his company who had been reported absent for some days, and were supposed to have gone over to the enemy), to ascertain if their opinions tallied with his own on this point.
“It can’t be no better,” said one, taking hold of the pig’s neck between his finger and thumb, which he afterwards applied to his mouth.
“I can’t abear my meat overdone,” said the third. “What I say is, let them that likes to wait, wait, and let them that wants to begin, begin.” So saying, he rose, and was about to attack the ribs of the porker with his knife.
“Do stop a minute—that’s a dear,” said Mrs Bags; “another bundle of cinnament will make it parfect. I’ll give ye something to stay your stomach;” and stepping to a nook in the wall of the cavern, where stood a large barrel, she filled a pewter measure, and handed it to the impatient advocate for underdone pork, who took a considerable dram, and passed it to his companions.
“Cinnament’s better with pork nor with most things,” said Bags. “It spoils goose, because it don’t agree with the inions, and it makes fowls wishy-washy; but it goes excellent with pig.”