Pagina 479 di 788

It was an especial piece of good luck for the Soplicas that the

Count, having better horses than the gentry, and wishing to be

the first in the engagement, had left them behind, and had

galloped at least a mile 158 in advance of the rest of the

cavalry, along with his jockeys, who were obedient and well

disciplined, and formed a sort of regular army. For the rest of

the gentry, as is usually the case with insurgents, were

turbulent, and beyond measure quick at hanging. As it was, the

Count had time to recover from his heat and wrath, and to

deliberate how to end the battle without bloodshed; so he gave

orders to lock the Soplica family in the mansion as prisoners of

war, and stationed guards at the doors.