New Segovia lay in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains, one of
which had to be ascended immediately on leaving the town. The next day's
dawn found them on its summit, with a valley far below them, in which, to
their joy, they beheld a large number of animals which they took to be
oxen. Their joy was dissipated, however, when the scouts they sent out
came back with the information that these animals were horses, saddled and
bridled, and that a series of formidable intrenchments had been built in
the valley, rising like terraces, one above another, and carried to the
mountains on each side, so as completely to close the route.
There seemed no way to avoid these defences. On one side of the mountain
flowed a river. A small eminence, surrounded by breastworks, commanded the
only passage which the freebooters could follow. The whole country round
was thick forest, through whose rock-guarded demesnes not the slightest
indication of a path could be seen. Yet to attack those works in front
promised quick and utter defeat, and if they wished to avoid destruction
they must find some way to outwit their foes.
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