The roads were extremely bad, and it would be next to impossible for an army to carry with it sustenance for the march; still less for maintaining itself after it had traversed the passes.

Moreover Spencer, falling back before them, would retire to the lines of Torres Vedras; and the invaders would find themselves, as Massena had done, baffled by that tremendous line of fortifications, where they might find also Wellington and his army, who would have shorter roads to follow, established before they arrived.
Some of the townspeople were allowed to pass in and out of the convent, to sell fruit and other articles to the British prisoners; and Terence thought it better to open negotiations with one of these, rather than one of the warders in French pay.

He was not long in fixing upon one of them as an ally.

She was a good-looking peasant girl, who came regularly with grapes and other fruit.

From the first, Terence had made his purchases from her, and had stood chatting with her for some time.
"I want to get away from here, Nita," he said, on the day he received the news of Wellington's march to the south.
"I dare say, senor," she laughed.