In the last book Gabriel was made prisoner and was on his way to France.
Yet, he and three other prisoners manage to escape near Zaragoza. Don Roque tells them that he has a friend in town, a rich farmer called José Montoria. The other prisoners leave, and Don Roque and Gabriel find the whereabouts of Don José. They are hungry, and the man welcomes them affably. His youngest son, Agustin, is to become a priest, and the other children are not living in the house any longer.
Gabriel and Agustín volunteer to fight. Agustin tells Gabriel that he does not want to become a priest. He is in love, but there is a problem. The woman he is in love with, Mariquilla, is the daughter of Tío Candiola, a terrible moneylender, who everybody loathes, and he keeps his daughter under lock and key. The only moments they can be together is when Tío Candiola is on the basement counting his money. Agustín also says that his father would not approve of the engagement either as he and Tío Candiola are sworn enemies because of some affair when Don José helped one of his neighbours in his debts to Tío Candiola.
Gabriel is witness and participates in the ferocious defense of the town and attack on the French.
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