The Wind Still Howled, And The Rain Descended In Torrents.
I sat
before the fire in a very drowsy state, from which I was presently
aroused by the conversation of the host.
"Senor," said he, "it is
now three years since I beheld foreigners in my house. I remember
it was about this time of the year, and just such a night as this,
that two men on horseback arrived here. What was singular, they
came without any guide. Two more strange-looking individuals I
never yet beheld with eye-sight. I shall never forget them. The
one was as tall as a giant, with much tawny moustache, like the
coat of a badger, growing about his mouth. He had a huge ruddy
face, and looked dull and stupid, as he no doubt was, for when I
spoke to him, he did not seem to understand, and answered in a
jabber, valgame Dios! so wild and strange, that I remained staring
at him with mouth and eyes open. The other was neither tall nor
red-faced, nor had he hair about his mouth, and, indeed, he had
very little upon his head. He was very diminutive, and looked like
a jorobado (hunchback); but, valgame Dios! such eyes, like wild
cats', so sharp and full of malice. He spoke as good Spanish as I
myself do, and yet he was no Spaniard. A Spaniard never looked
like that man. He was dressed in a zamarra, with much silver and
embroidery, and wore an Andalusian hat, and I soon found that he
was master, and that the other was servant.
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