Therefore the muleteers were able to obtain a comfortable meal and, after resting their animals for three hours, and giving them a good feed of corn, went on a few miles farther; and then, turning off, encamped among the hills.
They were about to wrap themselves in their cloaks and blankets, and to lie down for the night, when a number of armed men suddenly appeared.
"Who are you, and whither are you going ?" one, who appeared to be their leader, asked.
"We are bound for Xeres," Garcia replied, rising to his feet.

"We are commissioned by Senor Moldeno, the well-known wine merchant of Salamanca, to procure for him--as much good Xeres wine as our mules will carry." "It is a pity that we did not meet you on the way back, instead of on your journey there.

We should appreciate the wine quite as thoroughly as his customers would do.

But how do you propose to bring your wine back, when the whole country south swarms with Soult's cavalry ?" "Don Moldeno obtained a pass for us from Marmont; who, I suppose, is one of his customers." "We could not think of allowing wine to pass for the use of a French marshal," the man said.
"It is not likely that he will drink it for some time," Garcia said, carelessly; "for he is marching in this direction himself.
Two of his divisions have probably, by this time, reached Banos; and we heard at Salamanca that he himself, with the rest of them, will follow in a day or two." "That is bad news," the man said.

"There will be no travellers along here, while the army is on its march.