Towards Evening We Reached A
Moor, A Wild Place Enough, Strewn With Enormous Stones And Rocks.
Before Us, At Some
Distance, rose a strange conical hill, rough and
shaggy, which appeared to be neither more nor less than an immense
Assemblage of the same kind of rocks which lay upon the moor. The
rain had now ceased, but a strong wind rose and howled at our
backs. Throughout the journey, I had experienced considerable
difficulty in keeping up with the mule of Antonio; the walk of the
horse was slow, and I could discover no vestige of the spirit which
the Gypsy had assured me lurked within him. We were now upon a
tolerably clear spot of the moor: "I am about to see," I said,
"whether this horse has any of the quality which you have
described." "Do so," said Antonio, and spurred his beast onward,
speedily leaving me far behind. I jerked the horse with the bit,
endeavouring to arouse his dormant spirit, whereupon he stopped,
reared, and refused to proceed. "Hold the bridle loose and touch
him with your whip," shouted Antonio from before. I obeyed, and
forthwith the animal set off at a trot, which gradually increased
in swiftness till it became a downright furious speedy trot; his
limbs were now thoroughly lithy, and he brandished his fore legs in
a manner perfectly wondrous; the mule of Antonio, which was a
spirited animal of excellent paces, would fain have competed with
him, but was passed in a twinkling. This tremendous trot endured
for about a mile, when the animal, becoming yet more heated, broke
suddenly into a gallop. Hurrah! no hare ever ran so wildly or
blindly; it was, literally, ventre a terre; and I had considerable
difficulty in keeping him clear of rocks, against which he would
have rushed in his savage fury, and dashed himself and rider to
atoms.
This race brought me to the foot of the hill, where I waited till
the Gypsy rejoined me: we left the hill, which seemed quite
inaccessible, on our right, passing through a small and wretched
village. The sun went down, and dark night presently came upon us;
we proceeded on, however, for nearly three hours, until we heard
the barking of dogs, and perceived a light or two in the distance.
"That is Trujillo," said Antonio, who had not spoken for a long
time. "I am glad of it," I replied; "I am thoroughly tired; I
shall sleep soundly in Trujillo." "That is as it may be," said the
Gypsy, and spurred his mule to a brisker pace. We soon entered the
town, which appeared dark and gloomy enough; I followed close
behind the Gypsy, who led the way I knew not whither, through
dismal streets and dark places, where cats were squalling. "Here
is the house," said he at last, dismounting before a low mean hut;
he knocked, no answer was returned; - he knocked again, but still
there was no reply; he shook the door and essayed to open it, but
it appeared firmly locked and bolted.
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