"There are no _queres_ in this place; it is doubtless a fire made by _durotunes_. Let us go and join them, for, as you say, it is doleful work wandering about at night amidst rain and mire."
We dismounted and entered what I now saw was a forest, leading the animals cautiously amongst the trees and brushwood. In about five minutes we reached a small open s.p.a.ce, at the farther side of which, at the foot of a large cork-tree, a fire was burning, and by it stood or sat two or three figures; they had heard our approach, and one of them now exclaimed, "_Quien vive_!" {132} "I know that voice," said Antonio; and, leaving the horse with me, rapidly advanced towards the fire. Presently I heard an _Ola_! and a laugh, and soon the voice of Antonio summoned me to advance. On reaching the fire I found two dark lads, and a still darker woman of about forty; the latter seated on what appeared to be horse or mule furniture. I likewise saw a horse and two donkeys tethered to the neighbouring trees. It was, in fact, a gypsy bivouac. . . .
"Come forward, brother, and show yourself," said Antonio to me; "you are amongst friends. These are of the _Errate_, the very people whom I expected to find at Trujillo, and in whose house we should have slept."
"And what," said I, "could have induced them to leave their house in Trujillo and come into this dark forest, in the midst of wind and rain, to pa.s.s the night?"
"They come on business of Egypt, brother, doubtless," replied Antonio; "and that business is none of ours. _Calla boca_! {133a} It is lucky we have found them here, else we should have had no supper, and our horses no corn."
"My _ro_ is prisoner at the village yonder," said the woman, pointing with her hand in a particular direction; "he is prisoner yonder for _choring a mailla_. {133b} We are come to see what we can do in his behalf; and where can we lodge better than in this forest, where there is nothing to pay? It is not the first time, I trow, that _Calore_ have slept at the root of a tree."
One of the striplings now gave us barley for our animals in a large bag, into which we successively introduced their heads, allowing the famished creatures to regale themselves till we conceived that they had satisfied their hunger. There was a _puchero_ simmering at the fire, half full of bacon, _garbanzos_, and other provisions; this was emptied into a large wooden platter, and out of this Antonio and myself supped. The other gypsies refused to join us, giving us to understand that they had eaten before our arrival; they all, however, did justice to the leathern bottle of Antonio, which, before his departure from Merida, he had the precaution to fill.
I was by this time completely overcome with fatigue and sleep. Antonio flung me an immense horse-cloth, of which he bore more than one beneath the huge cushion on which he rode; in this I wrapped myself, and placing my head upon a bundle, and my feet as near as possible to the fire, I lay down.
Antonio and the other gypsies remained seated by the fire conversing. I listened for a moment to what they said, but I did not perfectly understand it, and what I did understand by no means interested me. The rain still drizzled, but I heeded it not, and was soon asleep.
The sun was just appearing as I awoke. I made several efforts before I could rise from the ground; my limbs were quite stiff, and my hair was covered with rime, for the rain had ceased and a rather severe frost set in. I looked around me, but could see neither Antonio nor the gypsies.
The animals of the latter had likewise disappeared, so had the horse which I had hitherto rode; the mule, however, of Antonio still remained fastened to the tree. This latter circ.u.mstance quieted some apprehensions which were beginning to arise in my mind. "They are gone on some business of Egypt," I said to myself, "and will return anon." I gathered together the embers of the fire, and heaping upon them sticks and branches, soon succeeded in calling forth a blaze, beside which I again placed the _puchero_, with what remained of the provision of last night. I waited for a considerable time in expectation of the return of my companions, but as they did not appear, I sat down and breakfasted.
Before I had well finished I heard the noise of a horse approaching rapidly, and presently Antonio made his appearance amongst the trees, with some agitation in his countenance. He sprang from the horse, and instantly proceeded to untie the mule. "Mount, brother, mount!" said he, pointing to the horse. "I went with the _Callee_ and her _chabes_ to the village where the _ro_ is in trouble; the _chin.o.baro_, however, seized them at once with their cattle, and would have laid hands also on me, but I set spurs to the _grasti_, gave him the bridle, and was soon far away.
Mount, brother, mount, or we shall have the whole rustic _canaille_ upon us in a twinkling."
I did as he commanded: we were presently in the road which we had left the night before. Along this we hurried at a great rate, the horse displaying his best speedy trot; whilst the mule, with its ears p.r.i.c.ked up, galloped gallantly at his side. "What place is that on the hill yonder?" said I to Antonio, at the expiration of an hour, as we prepared to descend a deep valley.
"That is Jaraicejo," said Antonio; "a bad place it is, and a bad place it has ever been for the _Calo_ people." {135}
"If it is such a bad place," said I, "I hope we shall not have to pa.s.s through it."
"We must pa.s.s through it," said Antonio, "for more reasons than one: first, forasmuch as the road lies through Jaraicejo; and, second, forasmuch as it will be necessary to purchase provisions there, both for ourselves and horses. On the other side of Jaraicejo there is a wild desert, a _despoblado_, where we shall find nothing."
We crossed the valley, and ascended the hill, and as we drew near to the town, the gypsy said, "Brother, we had best pa.s.s through that town singly. I will go in advance; follow slowly, and when there purchase bread and barley; you have nothing to fear. I will await you on the _despoblado_."
Without waiting for my answer he hastened forward, and was speedily out of sight.
I followed slowly behind, and entered the gate of the town, an old dilapidated place, consisting of little more than one street. Along this street I was advancing, when a man with a dirty foraging cap on his head, and holding a gun in his hand, came running up to me. "Who are you?"
said he, in rather rough accents; "from whence do you come?"
"From Badajoz and Trujillo," I replied; "why do you ask?"
"I am one of the national guard," said the man, "and am placed here to inspect strangers. I am told that a gypsy fellow just now rode through the town; it is well for him that I had stepped into my house. Do you come in his company?"
"Do I look a person," said I, "likely to keep company with gypsies?"
The national measured me from top to toe, and then looked me full in the face with an expression which seemed to say, "likely enough." In fact, my appearance was by no means calculated to prepossess people in my favour. Upon my head I wore an old Andalusian hat, which, from its condition, appeared to have been trodden underfoot; a rusty cloak, which had perhaps served half a dozen generations, enwrapped my body. My nether garments were by no means of the finest description, and, as far as could be seen, were covered with mud, with which my face was likewise plentifully bespattered, and upon my chin was a beard of a week"s growth.
"Have you a pa.s.sport?" at length demanded the national.
I remembered having read that the best way to win a Spaniard"s heart is to treat him with ceremonious civility. I therefore dismounted, and taking off my hat, made a low bow to the const.i.tutional soldier, saying, "_Senor nacional_, you must know that I am an English gentleman, travelling in this country for my pleasure. I bear a pa.s.sport, which, on inspecting, you will find to be perfectly regular; it was given me by the great Lord Palmerston, minister of England, whom you of course have heard of here; at the bottom you will see his own handwriting. Look at it and rejoice; perhaps you will never have another opportunity. As I put unbounded confidence in the honour of every gentleman, I leave the pa.s.sport in your hands whilst I repair to the _posada_ to refresh myself.
When you have inspected it, you will perhaps oblige me so far as to bring it to me. Cavalier, I kiss your hands."
I then made him another low bow, which he returned with one still lower, and leaving him now staring at the pa.s.sport and now looking at myself, I went into a posada, to which I was directed by a beggar whom I met.
I fed the horse, and procured some bread and barley, as the gypsy had directed me; I likewise purchased three fine partridges of a fowler, who was drinking wine in the _posada_. He was satisfied with the price I gave him, and offered to treat me with a _copita_, to which I made no objection. As we sat discoursing at the table, the national entered with the pa.s.sport in his hand, and sat down by us.
_National_.-_Caballero_! I return you your pa.s.sport; it is quite in form. I rejoice much to have made your acquaintance; I have no doubt that you can give me some information respecting the present war.
_Myself_.-I shall be very happy to afford so polite and honourable a gentleman any information in my power.
_National_.-What is England doing? Is she about to afford any a.s.sistance to this country? If she pleased she could put down the war in three months.
_Myself_.-Be under no apprehension, _Senor nacional_; the war will be put down, don"t doubt. You have heard of the English legion, {138a} which my Lord Palmerston has sent over? Leave the matter in their hands, and you will soon see the result.
_National_.-It appears to me that this _Caballero_ Balmerson must be a very honest man.
_Myself_.-There can be no doubt of it.
_National_.-I have heard that he is a great general.
_Myself_.-There can be no doubt of it. In some things neither Napoleon nor the Sawyer {138b} would stand a chance with him for a moment. _Es mucho hombre_. {138c}
_National_.-I am glad to hear it. Does he intend to head the legion himself?
_Myself_.-I believe not; but he has sent over, to head the fighting men, a friend of his, who is thought to be nearly as much versed in military matters as himself.
_National_.-I am rejoiced to hear it. I see that the war will soon be over. _Caballero_, I thank you for your politeness, and for the information which you have afforded me. I hope you will have a pleasant journey. I confess that I am surprised to see a gentleman of your country travelling alone, and in this manner, through such regions as these. The roads are at present very bad; there have of late been many accidents, and more than two deaths in this neighbourhood. The _despoblado_ out yonder has a particularly evil name; be on your guard, _Caballero_. I am sorry that gypsy was permitted to pa.s.s; should you meet him and not like his looks, shoot him at once, stab him, or ride him down. He is a well-known thief, _contrabandista_, and murderer, and has committed more a.s.sa.s.sinations than he has fingers on his hands.
_Caballero_, if you please, we will allow you a guard to the other side of the pa.s.s. You do not wish it? Then, farewell. Stay, before I go I should wish to see once more the signature of the _Caballero_ Balmerson.
I showed him the signature, which he looked upon with profound reverence, uncovering his head for a moment. We then embraced and parted.
I mounted the horse and rode from the town, at first proceeding very slowly. I had no sooner, however, reached the moor, than I put the animal to his speedy trot, and proceeded at a tremendous rate for some time, expecting every moment to overtake the gypsy. I, however, saw nothing of him, nor did I meet with a single human being. The road along which I sped was narrow and sandy, winding amidst thickets of broom and brushwood, with which the _despoblado_ was overgrown, and which in some places were as high as a man"s head. Across the moor, in the direction in which I was proceeding, rose a lofty eminence, naked and bare. The moor extended for at least three leagues; I had nearly crossed it, and reached the foot of the ascent. I was becoming very uneasy, conceiving that I might have pa.s.sed the gypsy amongst the thickets, when I suddenly heard his well-known _Ola_! and his black savage head and staring eyes suddenly appeared from amidst a clump of broom.
"You have tarried long, brother," said he; "I almost thought you had played me false."
He bade me dismount, and then proceeded to lead the horse behind the thicket, where I found the mule picqueted to the ground. I gave him the barley and provisions, and then proceeded to relate to him my adventure with the national.
"I would I had him here," said the gypsy, on hearing the epithets which the former had lavished upon him-"I would I had him here, then should my _chuli_ and his _carlo_ become better acquainted."
"And what are you doing here yourself," I demanded, "in this wild place, amidst these thickets?"
"I am expecting a messenger down yon pa.s.s," said the gypsy; "and till that messenger arrive I can neither go forward nor return. It is on business of Egypt, brother, that I am here."
As he invariably used this last expression when he wished to evade my inquiries, I held my peace, and said no more. The animals were fed, and we proceeded to make a frugal repast on bread and wine.
"Why do you not cook the game which I brought?" I demanded; "in this place there is plenty of materials for a fire."
"The smoke might discover us, brother," said Antonio. "I am desirous of lying _escondido_ in this place until the arrival of the messenger."
It was now considerably past noon. The gypsy lay behind the thicket, raising himself up occasionally and looking anxiously towards the hill which lay over against us; at last, with an exclamation of disappointment and impatience, he flung himself on the ground, where he lay a considerable time, apparently ruminating; at last he lifted up his head and looked me in the face.
_Antonio_.-Brother, I cannot imagine what business brought you to this country.