part08-第6部分

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the　corporal　put　himself　in　front；　gave　the　word；　〃Forward…　march！〃

and　away　they　marched　for　the　Alhambra。

　　The　sight　of　a　ragged　foot…soldier　and　a　fine　Arabian　horse；　brought

in　captive　by　the　patrol；　attracted　the　attention　of　all　the　idlers　of

the　fortress；　and　of　those　gossip　groups　that　generally　assemble　about

wells　and　fountains　at　early　dawn。　The　wheel　of　the　cistern　paused

in　its　rotations；　and　the　slipshod　servant…maid　stood　gaping；　with

pitcher　in　hand；　as　the　corporal　passed　by　with　his　prize。　A　motley

train　gradually　gathered　in　the　rear　of　the　escort。

　　Knowing　nods　and　winks　and　conjectures　passed　from　one　to　another。

〃It　is　a　deserter；〃　said　one。　〃A　contrabandista；〃　said　another。　〃A

bandalero；〃　said　a　third…　until　it　was　affirmed　that　a　captain　of　a

desperate　band　of　robbers　had　been　captured　by　the　prowess　of　the

corporal　and　his　patrol。　〃Well；　well；〃　said　the　old　crones；　one　to

another；　〃captain　or　not；　let　him　get　out　of　the　grasp　of　old　Governor

Manco　if　he　can；　though　he　is　but　one…handed。〃

　　Governor　Manco　was　seated　in　one　of　the　inner　halls　of　the　Alhambra；

taking　his　morning's　cup　of　chocolate　in　company　with　his　confessor；　a

fat　Franciscan　friar；　from　the　neighboring　convent。　A　demure；

dark…eyed　damsel　of　Malaga；　the　daughter　of　his　housekeeper；　was

attending　upon　him。　The　world　hinted　that　the　damsel；　who；　with　all

her　demureness；　was　a　sly　buxom　baggage；　had　found　out　a　soft　spot

in　the　iron　heart　of　the　old　governor；　and　held　complete　control

over　him。　But　let　that　pass…　the　domestic　affairs　of　these　mighty

potentates　of　the　earth　should　not　be　too　narrowly　scrutinized。

　　When　word　was　brought　that　a　suspicious　stranger　had　been　taken

lurking　about　the　fortress；　and　was　actually　in　the　outer　court；　in

durance　of　the　corporal；　waiting　the　pleasure　of　his　excellency；　the

pride　and　stateliness　of　office　swelled　the　bosom　of　the　governor。

Giving　back　his　chocolate　cup　into　the　hands　of　the　demure　damsel；

he　called　for　his　basket…hilted　sword；　girded　it　to　his　side；

twirled　up　his　mustaches；　took　his　seat　in　a　large　high…backed

chair；　assumed　a　bitter　and　forbidding　aspect；　and　ordered　the

prisoner　into　his　presence。　The　soldier　was　brought　in；　still

closely　pinioned　by　his　captors；　and　guarded　by　the　corporal。　He

maintained；　however；　a　resolute　self…confident　air；　and　returned　the

sharp；　scrutinizing　look　of　the　governor　with　an　easy　squint；　which　by

no　means　pleased　the　punctilious　old　potentate。

　　〃Well；　culprit；〃　said　the　governor；　after　he　had　regarded　him　for

a　moment　in　silence；　〃what　have　you　to　say　for　yourself…　who　are　you？〃

　　〃A　Soldier；　just　from　the　wars；　who　has　brought　away　nothing　but

scars　and　bruises。〃

　　〃A　soldier…　humph…　a　foot…soldier　by　your　garb。　I　understand　you

have　a　fine　Arabian　horse。　I　presume　you　brought　him　too　from　the

wars；　besides　your　scars　and　bruises。〃

　　〃May　it　please　your　excellency；　I　have　something　strange　to　tell

about　that　horse。　Indeed　I　have　one　of　the　most　wonderful　things　to

relate。　Something　too　that　concerns　the　security　of　this　fortress；

indeed　of　all　Granada。　But　it　is　a　matter　to　be　imparted　only　to

your　private　ear；　or　in　presence　of　such　only　as　are　in　your

confidence。〃

　　The　governor　considered　for　a　moment；　and　then　directed　the　corporal

and　his　men　to　withdraw；　but　to　post　themselves　outside　of　the　door；

and　be　ready　at　a　call。　〃This　holy　friar；〃　said　he；　〃is　my

confessor；　you　may　say　any　thing　in　his　presence…　and　this　damsel；〃

nodding　toward　the　handmaid；　who　had　loitered　with　an　air　of　great

curiosity；　〃this　damsel　is　of　great　secrecy　and　discretion；　and　to

be　trusted　with　any　thing。〃

　　The　soldier　gave　a　glance　between　a　squint　and　a　leer　at　the

demure　handmaid。　〃I　am　perfectly　willing；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　damsel

should　remain。〃

　　When　all　the　rest　had　withdrawn；　the　soldier　commenced　his　story。　He

was　a　fluent；　smooth…tongued　varlet；　and　had　a　command　of　language

above　his　apparent　rank。

　　〃May　it　please　your　excellency；〃　said　he；　〃I　am；　as　I　before

observed；　a　soldier；　and　have　seen　some　hard　service；　but　my　term　of

enlistment　being　expired；　I　was　discharged；　not　long　since；　from　the

army　at　Valladolid；　and　set　out　on　foot　for　my　native　village　in

Andalusia。　Yesterday　evening　the　sun　went　down　as　I　was　traversing　a

great　dry　plain　of　Old　Castile。〃

　　〃Hold；〃　cried　the　governor；　〃what　is　this　you　say？　Old　Castile　is

some　two　or　three　hundred　miles　from　this。〃

　　〃Even　so；〃　replied　the　soldier；　coolly；　〃I　told　your　excellency　I

had　strange　things　to　relate；　but　not　more　strange　than　true；　as

your　excellency　will　find；　if　you　will　deign　me　a　patient　hearing。〃

　　〃Proceed；　culprit；〃　said　the　governor；　twirling　up　his　mustaches。

　　〃As　the　sun　went　down；〃　continued　the　soldier；　〃I　cast　my　eyes　about

in　search　of　quarters　for　the　night；　but　as　far　as　my　sight　could

reach；　there　were　no　signs　of　habitation。　I　saw　that　I　should　have

to　make　my　bed　on　the　naked　plain；　with　my　knapsack　for　a　pillow；

but　your　excellency　is　an　old　soldier；　and　knows　that　to　one　who　has

been　in　the　wars；　such　a　night's　lodging　is　no　great　hardship。〃

　　The　governor　nodded　assent；　as　he　drew　his　pocket　handkerchief　out

of　the　basket…hilt；　to　drive　away　a　fly　that　buzzed　about　his　nose。

　　〃Well；　to　make　a　long　story　short；〃　continued　the　soldier；　〃I

trudged　forward　for　several　miles　until　I　came　to　a　bridge　over　a　deep

ravine；　through　which　ran　a　little　thread　of　water；　almost　dried　up　by

the　summer　heat。　At　one　end　of　the　bridge　was　a　Moorish　tower；　the

upper　end　all　in　ruins；　but　a　vault　in　the　foundation　quite　entire。

Here；　thinks　I；　is　a　good　place　to　make　a　halt；　so　I　went　down　to

the　stream；　took　a　hearty　drink；　for　the　water　was　pure　and　sweet；　and

I　was　parched　with　thirst；　then；　opening　my　wallet；　I　took　out　an

onion　and　a　few　crusts；　which　were　all　my　provisions；　and　seating

myself　on　a　stone　on　the　margin　of　the　stream；　began　to　make　my

supper；　intending　afterwards　to　quarter　myself　for　the　night　in　the

vault　of　the　tower；　and　capital　quarters　they　would　have　been　for　a

campaigner　just　from　the　wars；　as　your　excellency；　who　is　an　old

soldier；　may　suppose。〃

　　〃I　have　put　up　gladly　with　worse　in　my　time；〃　said　the　governor；

returning　his　pocket　handkerchief　into　the　hilt　of　his　sword。

　　〃While　I　was　quietly　crunching　my　crust；〃　pursued　the　soldier；　〃I

heard　something　stir　within　the　vault；　I　listened…　it　was　the　tramp　of

a　horse。　By　and　by　a　man　came　forth　from　a　door　in　the　foundation　of

the　tower；　close　by　the　water's　edge；　leading　a　powerful　horse　by

the　bridle。　I　could　not　well　make　out　what　he　was　by　the　starlight。　It

had　a　suspicious　look　to　be　lurking　among　the　ruins　of　a　tower；　in

that　wild　solitary　place。　He　might　be　a　mere　wayfarer；　like　myself；　he

might　be　a　contrabandista；　he　might　be　a　bandalero！　what　of　that？

thank　heaven　and　my　poverty；　I　had　nothing　to　lose；　so　I　sat　still　and

crunched　my　crust。

　　〃He　led　his　horse　to　the　water；　close　by　where　I　was　sitting；　so

that　I　had　a　fair　opportunity　of　reconnoitering　him。　To　my　surprise　he

was　dressed　in　a　Moorish　garb；　with　a　cuirass　of　steel；　and　a　polished

skull…cap　that　I　distinguished　by　the　reflection　of　the　stars　upon　it。

His　horse；　too；　was　harnessed　in　the　Morisco　fashion；　with　great

shovel　stirrups。　He　led　him；　as　I　said；　to　the　side　of　the　stream；

into　which　the　animal　plunged　his　head　almost　to　the　eyes；　and　drank

until　I　thought　he　would　have　burst。

　　〃'Comrade；'　said　I；　'your　steed　drinks　well；　it's　a　good　sign　when　a

horse　plunges　his　muzzle　bravely　into　the　water。'

　　〃'He　may　well　drink；'　said　the　stranger；　speaking　with　a　Moorish

accent；　'it　is　a　good　year　since　he　had　his　last　draught。'

　　〃'By　Santiago；'　said　I；　'that　beats　even　the　camels　I　have　seen　in

Africa。　But　come；　you　seem　to　be　something　of　a　soldier；　will　you

sit　down　and　take　part　of　a　soldier's　fare？'　In　fact；　I　felt　the

want　of　a　companion　in　this　lonely　place；　and　was　willing　to　put　up

with　an　infidel。　Besides；　as　your　excellency　well　knows；　a　soldier

is　never　very　particular　about　the　faith　of　his　company；　and

soldiers　of　all　countries　are　comrades　on　peaceable　ground。〃

　　The　governor　again　nodded　assent。

　　〃Well；　as　I　was　saying；　I　invited　him　to　share　my　supper；　such　as　it

was；　for　I　could　not　do　less　in　common　hospitality。　'I　have　no　time　to

pause　for　meat　or　drink；'　said　he；　'I　have　a　long　journey　to　make

before　morning。'

　　〃'In　which　direction？'　said　I。

　　〃'Andalusia；'　said　he。

　　〃'Exactly　my　route；'　said　I；　'so；　as　you　won't　stop　and　eat　with　me；

perhaps　you　will　let　me　mount　and　ride　with　you。　I　see　your　horse　is

of　a　powerful　frame；　I'll　warrant　he'll　carry　double。'

　　〃'Agreed；'　said　the　trooper；　and　it　would　not　have　been　civil　and

soldier…like　to　refuse；　especially　as　I　had　offered　to　share　my　supper

with　him。　So　up　he　mounted；　and　up　I　mounted　behind　him。

　　〃'Hold　fast；'　said　he；　'my　steed　goes　like　the　wind。'

　　〃'Never　fear　me；'　said　I；　and　so　off　we　set。

　　〃From　a　walk　the　horse　soon　passed　to　a　trot；　from　a　trot　to　a

gallop；　and　from　a　gallop　to　a　harum…scarum　scamper。　It　seemed　as　if

rocks；　trees；　houses；　every　thing；　flew　hurry…scurry　behind　us。

　　〃'What　town　is　this？'　said　I。

　　〃'Segovia；'　said　he；　and　before　the　word　was　out　of　his　mouth；　the

towers　of　Segovia　were　out　of　sight。　We　swept　up　the　Guadarama

mountains；　and　down　by　the　Escurial；　and　we　skirted　the　walls　of

Madrid；　and　we　scoured　away　across　the　plains　of　La　Mancha。　In　this

way　we　went　up　hill　and　down　dale；　by　towers　and　cities；　all　buried　in

deep　sleep；　and　across　mountains；　and　plains；　and　rivers；　just

glimmering　in　the　starlight。

　　〃To　make　a　long　story　short；　and　not　to　fatigue　your　excellency；　the

trooper　suddenly　pulled　up　on　the　side　of　a　mountain。　'Here　we　are；'

said　he；　'at　the　end　of　our　journey。'　I　looked　about；　but　could　see　no

signs　of　habitation；　nothing　but　the　mouth　of　a　cavern。　W