I can quite understand now the fact that the Spanish infantry was once considered the finest in Europe.

If they only had leaders and discipline Spain would not want any foreign aid; her own people would be more than a match for any army the French could send across the northern frontier." The meal was scarcely finished when, at the end of the valley, some three miles away, a cloud of dust was seen to rise with the sparkle of the sun on arms and accouterments.
"There are Tesse's cavalry!" the count exclaimed.

"Another half hour will cause a transformation in this quiet valley." The head of the column came on but slowly, the cavalry regiment forming it accommodating their pace to that of the infantry and baggage wagons in the rear.

Slowly they moved on, until the bottom of the valley appeared covered with a moving mass extending from the end, three miles away, to within half a mile of the foot of the hill on which the Spaniards were posted.

Suddenly from the hillsides on the left puffs of smoke darted out, and instantly a similar fire was opened on the right.
"They are at work at last," Jack exclaimed as the rattle of musketry sounded loud and continuous.