One  morning  before  daybreak  the  earl,  accompanied
only  by  Jack  and  a  native  guide,  left  the  camp  on
foot,  having  laid  aside  their  uniforms  and  put  on  the
attire  of  peasants,  so  that  the  glitter  of  their  accoutre-
ments might  not  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy's
outposts.  Making  a  long  detour  they  approached  the
castle,  and  ascending  one  of  the  ravines  gained  a  point
where,  themselves  unseen,  they  could  mark  all  par-
ticulars of  the  fortifications.  Having  carried  out  his
purpose  the  earl  returned  to  camp  with  his  companion
without  his  absence  having  been  observed.  The  ob-
servations which  Peterborough  had  made  confirmed
the  reports  of  the  peasants,  that  the  garrison  kept  but
a  negligent  watch,  and  he  at  once  resolved  upon  making
the  attempt ;  but  to  none  of  his  most  intimate  friends
did  he  give  the  slightest  hint  of  his  intentions.
To  disguise  his  views  he  called  councils  of  war  both
in  the  camp  and  fleet,  wherein  it  was  resolved,  with
his  full  consent,  that  the  siege  of  Barcelona  should  be
abandoned,  and  that  the  army  should  be  immediately
re-embarked  and  conveyed  to  Italy.  Accordingly
the  heavy  artillery  was  conveyed  on  board  ship,  the
warlike  stores  collected,  and  the  troops  warned  to  be
ready  for  embarkation.  A  storm  of  reproaches  was
poured  upon  the  earl  by  Charles  and  his  courtiers.
The  officers  of  the  fleet  protested  openly,  declaring  that
an  assault  ought  to  be  attempted,  and  that  it  was  too
late  in  the  season  to  attempt  operations  elsewhere.
To  Jack's  surprise  his  commander,  usually  so  hasty,


THE  EMBARKATION  ORDERED.  147

irritable,  and  passionate,  bore  with  the  greatest  calm-
ness and  patience  the  reproaches  and  accusations  to
which  he  was  exposed.  No  one  dreamed  that  behind
these  preparations  for  embarkation  any  plan  of  attack
was  hidden.
