They Came Up To Me In A Moment And
Bade Me Stand, So I Flung Down My Staff, Took Off My Hat And
Saluted Them.
"Good day, caballeros," said I to them.
"Good day,
countryman," said they to me, and then we stood staring at each
other for more than a minute. Lieber himmel, I never saw such
robbers; so finely dressed, so well armed, and mounted so bravely
on two fiery little hakkas, that looked as if they could have taken
wing and flown up into the clouds! So we continued staring at each
other, till at last one asked me who I was, whence I came, and
where I was going. "Gentlemen," said I, "I am a Swiss, I have been
to Saint James to perform a religious vow, and am now returning to
my own country." I said not a word about the treasure, for I was
afraid that they would have shot me at once, conceiving that I
carried part of it about me. "Have you any money?" they demanded.
"Gentlemen," I replied, "you see how I travel on foot, with my
shoes torn to pieces; I should not do so if I had money. I will
not deceive you, however, I have a peseta and a few cuartos," and
thereupon I took out what I had and offered it to them. "Fellow,"
said they, "we are caballeros of Galicia, and do not take pesetas,
much less cuartos. Of what opinion are you? Are you for the
queen?" "No, gentlemen," said I, "I am not for the queen, but, at
the same time, allow me to tell you that I am not for the king
either; I know nothing about the matter; I am a Swiss, and fight
neither for nor against anybody unless I am paid." This made them
laugh, and then they questioned me about Saint James, and the
troops there, and the captain-general; and not to disoblige them, I
told them all I knew and much more. Then one of them, who looked
the fiercest and most determined, took his trombone in his hand,
and pointing it at me, said, "Had you been a Spaniard, we would
have blown your head to shivers, for we should have thought you a
spy, but we see you are a foreigner, and believe what you have
said; take, therefore, this peseta and go your way, but beware that
you tell nobody any thing about us, for if you do, carracho!" He
then discharged his trombone just over my head, so that for a
moment I thought myself shot, and then with an awful shout, they
both galloped away, their horses leaping over the barrancos, as if
possessed with many devils.
Myself. - And what happened to you on your arrival at Coruna?
Benedict. - When I arrived at Coruna, I inquired after yourself,
lieber herr, and they informed me that, only the day before my
arrival, you had departed for Oviedo: and when I heard that, my
heart died within me, for I was now at the far end of Galicia,
without a friend to help me. For a day or two I knew not what to
do; at last I determined to make for the frontier of France,
passing through Oviedo in the way, where I hoped to see you and ask
counsel of you. So I begged and bettled among the Germans of
Coruna. I, however, got very little from them, only a few cuarts,
less than the thieves had given me on the road from Saint James,
and with these I departed for the Asturias by the way of Mondonedo.
Och, what a town is that, full of canons, priests, and pfaffen, all
of them more Carlist than Carlos himself.
One day I went to the bishop's palace and spoke to him, telling him
I was a pilgrim from Saint James, and requesting assistance. He
told me, however, that he could not relieve me, and as for my being
a pilgrim from Saint James, he was glad of it, and hoped that it
would be of service to my soul. So I left Mondonedo, and got
amongst the wild mountains, begging and betting at the door of
every choza that I passed, telling all I saw that I was a pilgrim
from Saint James, and showing my passport in proof that I had been
there. Lieber herr, no person gave me a cuart, nor even a piece of
broa, and both Gallegans and Asturians laughed at Saint James, and
told me that his name was no longer a passport in Spain. I should
have starved if I had not sometimes plucked an ear or two out of
the maize fields; I likewise gathered grapes from the parras and
berries from the brambles, and in this manner I subsisted till I
arrived at the bellotas, where I slaughtered a stray kid which I
met, and devoured part of the flesh raw, so great was my hunger.
It made me, however, very ill, and for two days I lay in a barranco
half dead and unable to help myself; it was a mercy that I was not
devoured by the wolves. I then struck across the country for
Oviedo: how I reached it I do not know; I was like one walking in
a dream. Last night I slept in an empty hog-sty about two leagues
from here, and ere I left it, I fell down on my knees and prayed to
God that I might find you, lieber herr, for you were my last hope.
Myself. - And what do you propose to do at present?
Benedict. - What can I say, lieber herr? I know not what to do. I
will be guided in everything by your counsel.
Myself. - I shall remain at Oviedo a few days longer, during which
time you can lodge at this posada, and endeavour to recover from
the fatigue of your disastrous journeys; perhaps before I depart,
we may hit on some plan to extricate you from your present
difficulties.
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