Chapters 6-9 Summary

With their pride hurt by the British marching ahead the day before, the Spanish commanders order their troops to march across the bridge when they are supposed to stay on the north side with the British troops. Colonel Simmerson orders the South Essex to join the Spanish troops on the land to the south of the bridge. Sharpe and his riflemen wait at the bridge while Hogan continues to prepare the bridge for demolition. In the distance ahead of both the British and Spanish regiments, French cavalry gather. Both the Spanish and the British regiments form into infantry squares, the usual defense against cavalry. Sharpe sees all of this but knows that there should be no battle. As long as the infantry troops do nothing, the French cavalry should do nothing.

Lieutenant Gibbons comes to the bridge and says that Colonel...