THE

ROMANCE OF WAR:

OR,

THE HIGHLANDERS IN SPAIN.

BY

JAMES GRANT, ESQ.

Late 62nd Regiment.

"In the garb of old Gaul, with the fire of old Rome,
From the heath-covered mountains of Scotia we come;
Our loud-sounding pipe breathes the true martial strain,
And our hearts still the old Scottish valour retain,"

LONDON:

PRINTED BY MAURICE AND CO., HOWFORD BUILDINGS,

THE

ROMANCE OF
OF WAR.

CHAPTER I.

CASTELLO BRANCO.

"Yet since thou wilt an idle tale of mine,
Take one which scarcely is of worth enough
To give or to withhold. Our time creeps on;
Fancy grows colder, as the silvery hair
Tells the advancing winter of our life :
But if it be of worth enough to please,
That worth it owes to her who set the task;

If otherwise, the fault rests with the author."
Macduff's Cross.-Prelude.

"WELL, Ronald, my bon camarado, and so you are really here, and in safety?" said Macdonald as he came up at the head of his sub-division. "Quite well now, I perceive. You received my letter from your servant, of course?"

"Yes. I have a thousand strange adventures to tell you of; but I will reserve them for the halt,