part08-第5章

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office；　delighted　with　having　another　opportunity　of　displaying　his

ingenuity　at　the　expense　of　the　hard…headed　veteran。

　　He　returned　with　a　satchel　full　of　papers；　and　began　to　read　a

long　deposition　with　professional　volubility。　By　this　time　a　crowd　had

collected；　listening　with　outstretched　necks　and　gaping　mouths。

　　〃Prithee；　man；　get　into　the　carriage；　out　of　this　pestilent

throng；　that　I　may　the　better　hear　thee；〃　said　the　governor。

　　The　escribano　entered　the　carriage；　when；　in　a　twinkling；　the　door

was　closed；　the　coachman　smacked　his　whip…　mules；　carriage；　guards　and

all　dashed　off　at　a　thundering　rate；　leaving　the　crowd　in　gaping

wonderment；　nor　did　the　governor　pause　until　he　had　lodged　his　prey　in

one　of　the　strongest　dungeons　of　the　Alhambra。

　　He　then　sent　down　a　flag　of　truce　in　military　style；　proposing　a

cartel　or　exchange　of　prisoners…　the　corporal　for　the　notary。　The

pride　of　the　captain…general　was　piqued；　he　returned　a　contemptuous

refusal；　and　forthwith　caused　a　gallows；　tall　and　strong；　to　be

erected　in　the　centre　of　the　Plaza　Nueva　for　the　execution　of　the

corporal。

　　〃Oho！　is　that　the　game？〃　said　Governor　Manco。　He　gave　orders；　and

immediately　a　gibbet　was　reared　on　the　verge　of　the　great　beetling

bastion　that　overlooked　the　Plaza。　〃Now；〃　said　he　in　a　message　to

the　captain…general；　〃hang　my　soldier　when　you　please；　but　at　the　same

time　that　he　is　swung　off　in　the　square；　look　up　to　see　your　escribano

dangling　against　the　sky。〃

　　The　captain…general　was　inflexible；　troops　were　paraded　in　the

square；　the　drums　beat；　the　bell　tolled。　An　immense　multitude　of

amateurs　gathered　together　to　behold　the　execution。　On　the　other　hand；

the　governor　paraded　his　garrison　on　the　bastion；　and　tolled　the

funeral　dirge　of　the　notary　from　the　Torre　de　la　Campana；　or　Tower

of　the　Bell。

　　The　notary's　wife　pressed　through　the　crowd　with　a　whole　progeny

of　little　embryo　escribanos　at　her　heels；　and　throwing　herself　at

the　feet　of　the　captain…general；　implored　him　not　to　sacrifice　the

life　of　her　husband；　and　the　welfare　of　herself　and　her　numerous

little　ones；　to　a　point　of　pride；　〃for　you　know　the　old　governor　too

well；〃　said　she；　〃to　doubt　that　he　will　put　his　threat　in　execution；

if　you　hang　the　soldier。〃

　　The　captain…general　was　overpowered　by　her　tears　and　lamentations；

and　the　clamors　of　her　callow　brood。　The　corporal　was　sent　up　to　the

Alhambra；　under　a　guard；　in　his　gallows　garb；　like　a　hooded　friar；　but

with　head　erect　and　a　face　of　iron。　The　escribano　was　demanded　in

exchange；　according　to　the　cartel。　The　once　bustling　and

self…sufficient　man　of　the　law　was　drawn　forth　from　his　dungeon　more

dead　than　alive。　All　his　flippancy　and　conceit　had　evaporated；　his

hair；　it　is　said；　had　nearly　turned　gray　with　affright；　and　he　had　a

downcast；　dogged　look；　as　if　he　still　felt　the　halter　round　his　neck。

　　The　old　governor　stuck　his　one　arm　akimbo；　and　for　a　moment　surveyed

him　with　an　iron　smile。　〃Henceforth；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　〃moderate

your　zeal　in　hurrying　others　to　the　gallows；　be　not　too　certain　of

your　safety；　even　though　you　should　have　the　law　on　your　side；　and

above　all　take　care　how　you　play　off　your　schoolcraft　another　time

upon　an　old　soldier。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Governor　Manco　and　the　Soldier。



　　WHILE　Governor　Manco；　or　〃the　one…armed；〃　kept　up　a　show　of　military

state　in　the　Alhambra；　he　became　nettled　at　the　reproaches　continually

cast　upon　his　fortress；　of　being　a　nestling　place　of　rogues　and

contrabandistas。　On　a　sudden；　the　old　potentate　determined　on

reform；　and　setting　vigorously　to　work；　ejected　whole　nests　of

vagabonds　out　of　the　fortress　and　the　gipsy　caves　with　which　the

surrounding　hills　are　honeycombed。　He　sent　out　soldiers；　also；　to

patrol　the　avenues　and　footpaths；　with　orders　to　take　up　all

suspicious　persons。

　　One　bright　summer　morning；　a　patrol；　consisting　of　the　testy　old

corporal　who　had　distinguished　himself　in　the　affair　of　the　notary；

a　trumpeter　and　two　privates；　was　seated　under　the　garden　wall　of

the　Generalife；　beside　the　road　which　leads　down　from　the　mountain

of　the　sun；　when　they　heard　the　tramp　of　a　horse；　and　a　male　voice

singing　in　rough；　though　not　unmusical　tones；　an　old　Castilian

campaigning　song。

　　Presently　they　beheld　a　sturdy；　sunburnt　fellow；　clad　in　the

ragged　garb　of　a　foot…soldier；　leading　a　powerful　Arabian　horse；

caparisoned　in　the　ancient　Morisco　fashion。

　　Astonished　at　the　sight　of　a　strange　soldier　descending；　steed　in

hand；　from　that　solitary　mountain；　the　corporal　stepped　forth　and

challenged　him。

　　〃Who　goes　there？〃

　　〃A　friend。〃

　　〃Who　and　what　are　you？〃

　　〃A　poor　soldier　just　from　the　wars；　with　a　cracked　crown　and　empty

purse　for　a　reward。〃

　　By　this　time　they　were　enabled　to　view　him　more　narrowly。　He　had　a

black　patch　across　his　forehead；　which；　with　a　grizzled　beard；　added

to　a　certain　dare…devil　cast　of　countenance；　while　a　slight　squint

threw　into　the　whole　an　occasional　gleam　of　roguish　good　humor。

　　Having　answered　the　questions　of　the　patrol；　the　soldier　seemed　to

consider　himself　entitled　to　make　others　in　return。　〃May　I　ask；〃

said　he；　〃what　city　is　that　which　I　see　at　the　foot　of　the　hill？〃

　　〃What　city！〃　cried　the　trumpeter；　〃come；　that's　too　bad。　Here's　a

fellow　lurking　about　the　mountain　of　the　sun；　and　demands　the　name

of　the　great　city　of　Granada！〃

　　〃Granada！　Madre　de　Dios！　can　it　be　possible？〃

　　〃Perhaps　not！〃　rejoined　the　trumpeter；　〃and　perhaps　you　have　no　idea

that　yonder　are　the　towers　of　the　Alhambra。〃

　　〃Son　of　a　trumpet；〃　replied　the　stranger；　〃do　not　trifle　with　me；　if

this　be　indeed　the　Alhambra；　I　have　some　strange　matters　to　reveal

to　the　governor。〃

　　〃You　will　have　an　opportunity；〃　said　the　corporal；　〃for　we　mean　to

take　you　before　him。〃　By　this　time　the　trumpeter　had　seized　the　bridle

of　the　steed；　the　two　privates　had　each　secured　an　arm　of　the　soldier；

the　corporal　put　himself　in　front；　gave　the　word；　〃Forward…　march！〃

and　away　they　marched　for　the　Alhambra。

　　The　sight　of　a　ragged　foot…soldier　and　a　fine　Arabian　horse；　brought

in　captive　by　the　patrol；　attracted　the　attention　of　all　the　idlers　of

the　fortress；　and　of　those　gossip　groups　that　generally　assemble　about

wells　and　fountains　at　early　dawn。　The　wheel　of　the　cistern　paused

in　its　rotations；　and　the　slipshod　servant…maid　stood　gaping；　with

pitcher　in　hand；　as　the　corporal　passed　by　with　his　prize。　A　motley

train　gradually　gathered　in　the　rear　of　the　escort。

　　Knowing　nods　and　winks　and　conjectures　passed　from　one　to　another。

〃It　is　a　deserter；〃　said　one。　〃A　contrabandista；〃　said　another。　〃A

bandalero；〃　said　a　third…　until　it　was　affirmed　that　a　captain　of　a

desperate　band　of　robbers　had　been　captured　by　the　prowess　of　the

corporal　and　his　patrol。　〃Well；　well；〃　said　the　old　crones；　one　to

another；　〃captain　or　not；　let　him　get　out　of　the　grasp　of　old　Governor

Manco　if　he　can；　though　he　is　but　one…handed。〃

　　Governor　Manco　was　seated　in　one　of　the　inner　halls　of　the　Alhambra；

taking　his　morning's　cup　of　chocolate　in　company　with　his　confessor；　a

fat　Franciscan　friar；　from　the　neighboring　convent。　A　demure；

dark…eyed　damsel　of　Malaga；　the　daughter　of　his　housekeeper；　was

attending　upon　him。　The　world　hinted　that　the　damsel；　who；　with　all

her　demureness；　was　a　sly　buxom　baggage；　had　found　out　a　soft　spot

in　the　iron　heart　of　the　old　governor；　and　held　complete　control

over　him。　But　let　that　pass…　the　domestic　affairs　of　these　mighty

potentates　of　the　earth　should　not　be　too　narrowly　scrutinized。

　　When　word　was　brought　that　a　suspicious　stranger　had　been　taken

lurking　about　the　fortress；　and　was　actually　in　the　outer　court；　in

durance　of　the　corporal；　waiting　the　pleasure　of　his　excellency；　the

pride　and　stateliness　of　office　swelled　the　bosom　of　the　governor。

Giving　back　his　chocolate　cup　into　the　hands　of　the　demure　damsel；

he　called　for　his　basket…hilted　sword；　girded　it　to　his　side；

twirled　up　his　mustaches；　took　his　seat　in　a　large　high…backed

chair；　assumed　a　bitter　and　forbidding　aspect；　and　ordered　the

prisoner　into　his　presence。　The　soldier　was　brought　in；　still

closely　pinioned　by　his　captors；　and　guarded　by　the　corporal。　He

maintained；　however；　a　resolute　self…confident　air；　and　returned　the

sharp；　scrutinizing　look　of　the　governor　with　an　easy　squint；　which　by

no　means　pleased　the　punctilious　old　potentate。

　　〃Well；　culprit；〃　said　the　governor；　after　he　had　regarded　him　for

a　moment　in　silence；　〃what　have　you　to　say　for　yourself…　who　are　you？〃

　　〃A　Soldier；　just　from　the　wars；　who　has　brought　away　nothing　but

scars　and　bruises。〃

　　〃A　soldier…　humph…　a　foot…soldier　by　your　garb。　I　understand　you

have　a　fine　Arabian　horse。　I　presume　you　brought　him　too　from　the

wars；　besides　your　scars　and　bruises。〃

　　〃May　it　please　your　excellency；　I　have　something　strange　to　tell

about　that　horse。　Indeed　I　have　one　of　the　most　wonderful　things　to

relate。　Something　too　that　concerns　the　security　of　this　fortress；

indeed　of　all　Granada。　But　it　is　a　matter　to　be　imparted　only　to

your　private　ear；　or　in　presence　of　such　only　as　are　in　your

confidence。〃

　　The　governor　considered　for　a　moment；　and　then　directed　the　corporal

and　his　men　to　withdraw；　but　to　post　themselves　outside　of　the　door；

and　be　ready　at　a　call。　〃This　holy　friar；〃　said　he；　〃is　my

confessor；　you　may　say　any　thing　in　his　presence…　and　this　damsel；〃

nodding　toward　the　handmaid；　who　had　loitered　with　an　air　of　great

curiosity；　〃this　damsel　is　of　great　secrecy　and　discretion；　and　to

be　trusted　with　any　thing。〃

　　The　soldier　gave　a　glance　between　a　squint　and　a　leer　at　the

demure　handmaid。　〃I　am　perfectly　willing；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　damsel

should　remain。〃

　　When　all　the　rest　had　withdrawn；　the　soldier　commenced　his　story。　He

was　a　fluent；　smooth…tongued　varlet；　and　had　a　command　of　language

above　his　apparent　rank。

　　〃May　it　please　your　excellency；〃　said　he；　〃I　am；　as　I　before

observed；　a　soldier；　and　have　seen　some　hard　service；　but　my　term　of

enlistment　being　expired；　I　was　discharged；　not　long　since；　from　the

army　at　Valladolid；　and　set　out　on　foot　for　my　native　village　in

Andalusia。　Yesterday　evening　the　sun　went　down　as　I　was　traversing　a

great　dry　plain　of　Old　Castile。〃

　　〃Hold；〃　cried　the　governor；　〃what　is　this　you　say？　Old　Castile　is

some　two　or　three　hundred　miles　from　this。〃

　　〃Even　so；〃　replied　the　soldier；　coolly；　〃I　told　your　excellency　I

had　strange　things　to　relate；　but　not　more　strange　than　true；　as

your　excellency　will　find；　if　you　will　deign　me　a　patient　hearing。〃

　　〃Proceed；　culprit；〃　said　the　governor；　twirling　up　his　mustaches。

　　〃As　the　sun　went　down；〃　continued　the　soldier；　〃I　cast　my　eyes　about

in　search　of　quarters　for　the　night；　but　as　far　as　my　sight　could

reach；　there　were　no　signs　of　habitation。　I　saw　that　I　should　have

to　make　my　bed　on　the　naked　plain；　with　my　knapsack　for　a