There seemed, however,
to be no remedy at hand but patience, and, having refreshed
ourselves, we proceeded, leading our horses by the bridle.
We were now on level ground, being upon the very top of one of the
highest mountains in Galicia. This level continued for about a
league, when we began to descend. Before we had crossed the plain,
which was overgrown with furze and brushwood, we came suddenly upon
half a dozen fellows armed with muskets and wearing a tattered
uniform. We at first supposed them to be banditti: they were,
however, only a party of soldiers who had been detached from the
station we had just quitted to escort one of the provincial posts
or couriers. They were clamorous for cigars, but offered us no
farther incivility. Having no cigars to bestow, I gave them in
lieu thereof a small piece of silver. Two of the worst looking
were very eager to be permitted to escort us to Nogales, the
village where we proposed to spend the night. "By no means permit
them, mon maitre," said Antonio, "they are two famous assassins of
my acquaintance; I have known them at Madrid: in the first ravine
they will shoot and plunder us." I therefore civilly declined
their offer and departed. "You seem to be acquainted with all the
cut-throats in Galicia," said I to Antonio, as we descended the
hill.
"With respect to those two fellows," he replied, "I knew them when
I lived as cook in the family of General Q-, who is a Gallegan:
they were sworn friends of the repostero.
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