Certain it is that Spanish troops have often proved
great marchers; yet of all nations they have the slenderest legs, and
indeed they never use their own when they can substitute those of
horse, mule, or _burro_."
"The heat of the climate discourages exercise on foot," said Lady
Mabel.
"Or labor of any kind," said Cranfield. "The universal cloak
sufficiently proves that they are not a working people."
"And imperfectly conceals that they are a ragged one," said she. "Had
I old Moodie at my elbow, he would remind me that 'drowsiness shall
clothe a man in rags.'"
Observing Cranfield gazing round the square with much interest, she
said: "You must be quite familiar with this place."
"I shall never forget the occasion on which I saw it first," he
answered. "I was one of two engineers attached on the assault to
General Walker's brigade. While Picton was scaling the castle walls,
and crowds of our brave fellows were dying in the breaches, we
succeeded in forcing our way into the place over the bastion of San
Vincente. Hard work we had of it, and the fight did not end there; for
the enemy stubbornly disputed bastion after bastion on our flank, and
our commander fell on the ramparts covered with so many wounds that
his living seemed a miracle.
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