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behind a ragged rug hung on a rope。 The little girl had followed her into
this retreat； sacred to the fair sex。 Then my guide rose； and suggested that I
should go with him to the stable。 But at the word Don Jose； waking； as it
were； with a start； inquired sharply whither he was going。
〃To the stable；〃 answered the guide。
〃What for？ The horses have been fed！ You can sleep here。 The senor
will give you leave。〃
〃I'm afraid the senor's horse is sick。 I'd like the senor to see it。 Perhaps
he'd know what should be done for it。〃
It was quite clear to me that Antonio wanted to speak to me apart。
But I did not care to rouse Don Jose's suspicions； and being as we were；
I thought far the wisest course for me was to appear absolutely confident。
I therefore told Antonio that I knew nothing on earth about horses； and
that I was desperately sleepy。 Don Jose followed him to the stable； and
soon returned alone。 He told me there was nothing the matter with the
horse； but that my guide considered the animal such a treasure that he was
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scrubbing it with his jacket to make it sweat； and expected to spend the
night in that pleasing occupation。 Meanwhile I had stretched myself out on
the mule rugs； having carefully wrapped myself up in my own cloak； so as
to avoid touching them。 Don Jose； having begged me to excuse the liberty
he took in placing himself so near me； lay down across the door； but not
until he had primed his blunderbuss afresh and carefully laid it under the
wallet； which served him as a pillow。
I had thought I was so tired that I should be able to sleep even in such
a lodging。 But within an hour a most unpleasant itching sensation roused
me from my first nap。 As soon as I realized its nature； I rose to my feet；
feeling convinced I should do far better to spend the rest of the night in the
open air than beneath that inhospitable roof。 Walking tiptoe I reached the
door； stepped over Don Jose； who was sleeping the sleep of the just； and
managed so well that I got outside the building without waking him。 Just
beside the door there was a wide wooden bench。 I lay down upon it； and
settled myself； as best I could； for the remainder of the night。 I was just
closing my eyes for a second time when I fancied I saw the shadow of a
man and then the shadow of a horse moving absolutely noiselessly； one
behind the other。 I sat upright； and then I thought I recognised Antonio。
Surprised to see him outside the stable at such an hour； I got up and went
toward him。 He had seen me first； and had stopped to wait for me。
〃Where is he？〃 Antonio inquired in a low tone。
〃In the /venta/。 He's asleep。 The bugs don't trouble him。 But what are
you going to do with that horse？〃 I then noticed that； to stifle all noise as
he moved out of the shed； Antonio had carefully muffled the horse's feet in
the rags of an old blanket。
〃Speak lower； for God's sake；〃 said Antonio。 〃You don't know who
that man is。 He's Jose Navarro； the most noted bandit in Andalusia。 I've
been making signs to you all day long； and you wouldn't understand。〃
〃What do I care whether he's a brigand or not；〃 I replied。 〃He hasn't
robbed us； and I'll wager he doesn't want to。〃
〃That may be。 But there are two hundred ducats on his head。 Some
lancers are stationed in a place I know； a league and a half from here； and
before daybreak I'll bring a few brawny fellows back with me。 I'd have
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taken his horse away； but the brute's so savage that nobody but Navarro
can go near it。〃
〃Devil take you！〃 I cried。 〃What harm has the poor fellow done you
that you should want to inform against him？ And besides； are you certain
he is the brigand you take him for？〃
〃Perfectly certain！ He came after me into the stable just now； and said；
'You seem to know me。 If you tell that good gentleman who I am； I'll blow
your brains out！' You stay here； sir； keep close to him。 You've nothing to
fear。 As long as he knows you are there； he won't suspect anything。〃
As we talked； we had moved so far from the /venta/ that the noise of
the horse's hoofs could not be heard there。 In a twinkling Antonio snatched
off the rags he had wrapped around the creature's feet； and was just about
to climb on its back。 In vain did I attempt with prayers and threats to
restrain him。
〃I'm only a poor man； senor；〃 quoth he； 〃I can't afford to lose two
hundred ducatsespecially when I shall earn them by ridding the country
of such vermin。 But mind what you're about！ If Navarro wakes up； he'll
snatch at his blunderbuss； and then look out for yourself！ I've gone too far
now to turn back。 Do the best you can for yourself！〃
The villain was in his saddle already； he spurred his horse smartly； and
I soon lost sight of them both in the darkness。
I was very angry with my guide； and terribly alarmed as well。 After a
moment's reflection； I made up my mind； and went back to the /venta/。
Don Jose was still sound asleep； making up； no doubt； for the fatigue and
sleeplessness of several days of adventure。 I had to shake him roughly
before I could wake him up。 Never shall I forget his fierce look； and the
spring he made to get hold of his blunderbuss； which； as a precautionary
measure； I had removed to some distance from his couch。
〃Senor；〃 I said； 〃I beg your pardon for disturbing you。 But I have a
silly question to ask you。 Would you be glad to see half a dozen lancers
walk in here？〃
He bounded to his feet； and in an awful voice he demanded：
〃Who told you？〃
〃It's little matter whence the warning comes； so long as it be good。〃
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〃Your guide has betrayed mebut he shall pay for it！ Where is he？〃
〃I don't know。 In the stable； I fancy。 But somebody told me〃
〃Who told you？ It can't be the old hag〃
〃Some one I don't know。 Without more parleying； tell me； yes or no；
have you any reason for not waiting till the soldiers come？ If you have any；
lose no time！ If not； good…night to you； and forgive me for having
disturbed your slumbers！〃
〃Ah； your guide！ Your guide！ I had my doubts of him at firstbut I'll
settle with him！ Farewell； senor。 May God reward you for the service I
owe you！ I am not quite so wicked as you think me。 Yes； I still have
something in me that an honest man may pity。 Farewell； senor！ I have only
one regretthat I can not pay my debt to you！〃
〃As a reward for the service I have done you； Don Jose； promise me
you'll suspect nobodynor seek for vengeance。 Here are some cigars for
your journey。 Good luck to you。〃 And I held out my hand to him。
He squeezed it； without a word； took up his wallet and blunderbuss；
and after saying a few words to the old woman in a lingo that I could not
understand； he ran out to the shed。 A few minutes later； I heard him
galloping out into the country。
As for me； I lay down again on my bench； but I did not go to sleep
again。 I queried in my own mind whether I had done right to save a robber；
and possibly a murderer； from the gallows； simply and solely because I
had eaten ham and rice in his company。 Had I not betrayed my guide； who
was supporting the cause of law and order？ Had I not exposed him to a
ruffian's vengeance？ But then； what about the laws of hospitality？
〃A mere savage prejudice；〃 said I to myself。 〃I shall have to answer for
all the crimes this brigand may commit in future。〃 Yet is that instinct of the
conscience which resists every argument really a prejudice？ It may be I
could not have escaped from the delicate position in which I found myself
without remorse of some kind。 I was still tossed to and fro； in the greatest
uncertainty as to the morality of my behaviour； when I saw half a dozen
horsemen ride up； with Antonio prudently lagging behind them。 I went to
meet them； and told them the brigand had fled over two hours previously。
The old woman； when she was questioned by the sergeant； admitted that
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