"I stole a plump and bonny fowl,
But ere I well had dined,
The master came with scowl and growl,
And me would captive bind.
"My hat and mantle off I threw,
And scour'd across the lea,
Then cried the beng {3} with loud halloo,
Where does the Gypsy flee?"
He continued playing and singing for a considerable time, the two
younger females dancing in the meanwhile with unwearied diligence,
whilst the aged mother occasionally snapped her fingers or beat
time on the ground with her stick. At last Antonio suddenly laid
down the instrument:-
"I see the London Caloro is weary; enough, enough, to-morrow more
thereof - we will now to the charipe (bed)."
"With all my heart," said I; "where are we to sleep?"
"In the stable," said he, "in the manger; however cold the stable
may be we shall be warm enough in the bufa."
CHAPTER X
The Gypsy's Granddaughter - Proposed Marriage - The Algnazil - The
Assault - Speedy Trot - Arrival at Trujillo - Night and Rain - The
Forest - The Bivouac - Mount and Away! - Jaraicejo - The National - The
Cavalier Balmerson - Among the Thicket - Serious Discourse - What is
Truth? - Unexpected Intelligence.
We remained three days at the Gypsies' house, Antonio departing
early every morning, on his mule, and returning late at night. The
house was large and ruinous, the only habitable part of it, with
the exception of the stable, being the hall, where we had supped,
and there the Gypsy females slept at night, on some mats and
mattresses in a corner.
