In remembrance of the Englishman in
whose behalf he had so effectually interposed.
Antonio. - I will do so, your worship; and when the winds blow from
the north-west, preventing our launches from putting to sea, I will
read your present. Farewell, my captain, and when you next come to
Finisterra I hope it will be in a valiant English bark, with plenty
of contrabando on board, and not across the country on a pony, in
company with nuveiros and men of Padron.
Presently arrived the handmaid of the alcalde with a basket, which
she took into the kitchen, where she prepared an excellent supper
for her master's friend. On its being served up the alcalde bade
me farewell, having first demanded whether he could in any way
forward my plans.
"I return to Saint James to-morrow," I replied, "and I sincerely
hope that some occasion will occur which will enable me to acquaint
the world with the hospitality which I have experienced from so
accomplished a scholar as the Alcalde of Corcuvion."
CHAPTER XXXI
Coruna - Crossing the Bay - Ferrol - The Dockyard - Where are we now? -
Greek Ambassador - Lantern-light - The Ravine - Viveiro - Evening -
Marsh and Quagmire - Fair Words and Fair Money - The Leathern Girth -
Eyes of Lynx - The Knavish Guide.
From Corcuvion I returned to Saint James and Coruna, and now began
to make preparation for directing my course to the Asturias. In
the first place I parted with my Andalusian horse, which I
considered unfit for the long and mountainous journey I was about
to undertake; his constitution having become much debilitated from
his Gallegan travels. Owing to horses being exceedingly scarce at
Coruna, I had no difficulty in disposing of him at a far higher
price than he originally cost me. A young and wealthy merchant of
Coruna, who was a national guardsman, became enamoured of his
glossy skin and long mane and tail. For my own part, I was glad to
part with him for more reasons than one; he was both vicious and
savage, and was continually getting me into scrapes in the stables
of the posadas where we slept or baited. An old Castilian peasant,
whose pony he had maltreated, once said to me, "Sir Cavalier, if
you have any love or respect for yourself, get rid I beseech you of
that beast, who is capable of proving the ruin of a kingdom." So I
left him behind at Coruna, where I subsequently learned that he
became glandered and died. Peace to his memory!
From Coruna I crossed the bay to Ferrol, whilst Antonio with our
remaining horse followed by land, a rather toilsome and circuitous
journey, although the distance by water is scarcely three leagues.
I was very sea-sick during the passage, and lay almost senseless at
the bottom of the small launch in which I had embarked, and which
was crowded with people.
