part08-第6章

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

but　your　excellency　is　an　old　soldier；　and　knows　that　to　one　who　has

been　in　the　wars；　such　a　night's　lodging　is　no　great　hardship。〃

　　The　governor　nodded　assent；　as　he　drew　his　pocket　handkerchief　out

of　the　basket…hilt；　to　drive　away　a　fly　that　buzzed　about　his　nose。

　　〃Well；　to　make　a　long　story　short；〃　continued　the　soldier；　〃I

trudged　forward　for　several　miles　until　I　came　to　a　bridge　over　a　deep

ravine；　through　which　ran　a　little　thread　of　water；　almost　dried　up　by

the　summer　heat。　At　one　end　of　the　bridge　was　a　Moorish　tower；　the

upper　end　all　in　ruins；　but　a　vault　in　the　foundation　quite　entire。

Here；　thinks　I；　is　a　good　place　to　make　a　halt；　so　I　went　down　to

the　stream；　took　a　hearty　drink；　for　the　water　was　pure　and　sweet；　and

I　was　parched　with　thirst；　then；　opening　my　wallet；　I　took　out　an

onion　and　a　few　crusts；　which　were　all　my　provisions；　and　seating

myself　on　a　stone　on　the　margin　of　the　stream；　began　to　make　my

supper；　intending　afterwards　to　quarter　myself　for　the　night　in　the

vault　of　the　tower；　and　capital　quarters　they　would　have　been　for　a

campaigner　just　from　the　wars；　as　your　excellency；　who　is　an　old

soldier；　may　suppose。〃

　　〃I　have　put　up　gladly　with　worse　in　my　time；〃　said　the　governor；

returning　his　pocket　handkerchief　into　the　hilt　of　his　sword。

　　〃While　I　was　quietly　crunching　my　crust；〃　pursued　the　soldier；　〃I

heard　something　stir　within　the　vault；　I　listened…　it　was　the　tramp　of

a　horse。　By　and　by　a　man　came　forth　from　a　door　in　the　foundation　of

the　tower；　close　by　the　water's　edge；　leading　a　powerful　horse　by

the　bridle。　I　could　not　well　make　out　what　he　was　by　the　starlight。　It

had　a　suspicious　look　to　be　lurking　among　the　ruins　of　a　tower；　in

that　wild　solitary　place。　He　might　be　a　mere　wayfarer；　like　myself；　he

might　be　a　contrabandista；　he　might　be　a　bandalero！　what　of　that？

thank　heaven　and　my　poverty；　I　had　nothing　to　lose；　so　I　sat　still　and

crunched　my　crust。

　　〃He　led　his　horse　to　the　water；　close　by　where　I　was　sitting；　so

that　I　had　a　fair　opportunity　of　reconnoitering　him。　To　my　surprise　he

was　dressed　in　a　Moorish　garb；　with　a　cuirass　of　steel；　and　a　polished

skull…cap　that　I　distinguished　by　the　reflection　of　the　stars　upon　it。

His　horse；　too；　was　harnessed　in　the　Morisco　fashion；　with　great

shovel　stirrups。　He　led　him；　as　I　said；　to　the　side　of　the　stream；

into　which　the　animal　plunged　his　head　almost　to　the　eyes；　and　drank

until　I　thought　he　would　have　burst。

　　〃'Comrade；'　said　I；　'your　steed　drinks　well；　it's　a　good　sign　when　a

horse　plunges　his　muzzle　bravely　into　the　water。'

　　〃'He　may　well　drink；'　said　the　stranger；　speaking　with　a　Moorish

accent；　'it　is　a　good　year　since　he　had　his　last　draught。'

　　〃'By　Santiago；'　said　I；　'that　beats　even　the　camels　I　have　seen　in

Africa。　But　come；　you　seem　to　be　something　of　a　soldier；　will　you

sit　down　and　take　part　of　a　soldier's　fare？'　In　fact；　I　felt　the

want　of　a　companion　in　this　lonely　place；　and　was　willing　to　put　up

with　an　infidel。　Besides；　as　your　excellency　well　knows；　a　soldier

is　never　very　particular　about　the　faith　of　his　company；　and

soldiers　of　all　countries　are　comrades　on　peaceable　ground。〃

　　The　governor　again　nodded　assent。

　　〃Well；　as　I　was　saying；　I　invited　him　to　share　my　supper；　such　as　it

was；　for　I　could　not　do　less　in　common　hospitality。　'I　have　no　time　to

pause　for　meat　or　drink；'　said　he；　'I　have　a　long　journey　to　make

before　morning。'

　　〃'In　which　direction？'　said　I。

　　〃'Andalusia；'　said　he。

　　〃'Exactly　my　route；'　said　I；　'so；　as　you　won't　stop　and　eat　with　me；

perhaps　you　will　let　me　mount　and　ride　with　you。　I　see　your　horse　is

of　a　powerful　frame；　I'll　warrant　he'll　carry　double。'

　　〃'Agreed；'　said　the　trooper；　and　it　would　not　have　been　civil　and

soldier…like　to　refuse；　especially　as　I　had　offered　to　share　my　supper

with　him。　So　up　he　mounted；　and　up　I　mounted　behind　him。

　　〃'Hold　fast；'　said　he；　'my　steed　goes　like　the　wind。'

　　〃'Never　fear　me；'　said　I；　and　so　off　we　set。

　　〃From　a　walk　the　horse　soon　passed　to　a　trot；　from　a　trot　to　a

gallop；　and　from　a　gallop　to　a　harum…scarum　scamper。　It　seemed　as　if

rocks；　trees；　houses；　every　thing；　flew　hurry…scurry　behind　us。

　　〃'What　town　is　this？'　said　I。

　　〃'Segovia；'　said　he；　and　before　the　word　was　out　of　his　mouth；　the

towers　of　Segovia　were　out　of　sight。　We　swept　up　the　Guadarama

mountains；　and　down　by　the　Escurial；　and　we　skirted　the　walls　of

Madrid；　and　we　scoured　away　across　the　plains　of　La　Mancha。　In　this

way　we　went　up　hill　and　down　dale；　by　towers　and　cities；　all　buried　in

deep　sleep；　and　across　mountains；　and　plains；　and　rivers；　just

glimmering　in　the　starlight。

　　〃To　make　a　long　story　short；　and　not　to　fatigue　your　excellency；　the

trooper　suddenly　pulled　up　on　the　side　of　a　mountain。　'Here　we　are；'

said　he；　'at　the　end　of　our　journey。'　I　looked　about；　but　could　see　no

signs　of　habitation；　nothing　but　the　mouth　of　a　cavern。　While　I　looked

I　saw　multitudes　of　people　in　Moorish　dresses；　some　on　horseback；　some

on　foot；　arriving　as　if　borne　by　the　wind　from　all　points　of　the

compass；　and　hurrying　into　the　mouth　of　the　cavern　like　bees　into　a

hive。　Before　I　could　ask　a　question　the　trooper　struck　his　long

Moorish　spurs　into　the　horse's　flanks；　and　dashed　in　with　the

throng。　We　passed　along　a　steep　winding　way；　that　descended　into　the

very　bowels　of　the　mountain。　As　we　pushed　on；　a　light　began　to　glimmer

up；　by　little　and　little；　like　the　first　glimmerings　of　day；　but

what　caused　it　I　could　not　discern。　It　grew　stronger　and　stronger；　and

enabled　me　to　see　every　thing　around。　I　now　noticed；　as　we　passed

along；　great　caverns；　opening　to　the　right　and　left；　like　halls　in

an　arsenal。　In　some　there　were　shields；　and　helmets；　and　cuirasses；

and　lances；　and　cimeters；　hanging　against　the　walls；　in　others　there

were　great　heaps　of　warlike　munitions；　and　camp　equipage　lying　upon

the　ground。

　　〃It　would　have　done　your　excellency's　heart　good；　being　an　old

soldier；　to　have　seen　such　grand　provision　for　war。　Then；　in　other

caverns；　there　were　long　rows　of　horsemen　armed　to　the　teeth；　with

lances　raised　and　banners　unfurled；　all　ready　for　the　field；　but

they　all　sat　motionless　in　their　saddles　like　so　many　statues。　In

other　halls　were　warriors　sleeping　on　the　ground　beside　their

horses；　and　foot…soldiers　in　groups　ready　to　fall　into　the　ranks。

All　were　in　old…fashioned　Moorish　dresses　and　armor。

　　〃Well；　your　excellency；　to　cut　a　long　story　short；　we　at　length

entered　an　immense　cavern；　or　I　may　say　palace；　of　grotto　work；　the

walls　of　which　seemed　to　be　veined　with　gold　and　silver；　and　to

sparkle　with　diamonds　and　sapphires　and　all　kinds　of　precious

stones。　At　the　upper　end　sat　a　Moorish　king　on　a　golden　throne；　with

his　nobles　on　each　side；　and　a　guard　of　African　blacks　with　drawn

cimeters。　All　the　crowd　that　continued　to　flock　in；　and　amounted　to

thousands　and　thousands；　passed　one　by　one　before　his　throne；　each

paying　homage　as　he　passed。　Some　of　the　multitude　were　dressed　in

magnificent　robes；　without　stain　or　blemish　and　sparkling　with　jewels；

others　in　burnished　and　enamelled　armor；　while　others　were　in

mouldered　and　mildewed　garments；　and　in　armor　all　battered　and

dented　and　covered　with　rust。

　　〃I　had　hitherto　held　my　tongue；　for　your　excellency　well　knows　it　is

not　for　a　soldier　to　ask　many　questions　when　on　duty；　but　I　could　keep

silent　no　longer。

　　〃'Prithee；　comrade；'　said　I；　'what　is　the　meaning　of　all　this？'

　　〃'This；'　said　the　trooper；　'is　a　great　and　fearful　mystery。　Know；

O　Christian；　that　you　see　before　you　the　court　and　army　of　Boabdil　the

last　king　of　Granada。'

　　〃'What　is　this　you　tell　me？'　cried　I。　'Boabdil　and　his　court　were

exiled　from　the　land　hundreds　of　years　agone；　and　all　died　in　Africa。'

　　〃'So　it　is　recorded　in　your　lying　chronicles；'　replied　the　Moor；

'but　know　that　Boabdil　and　the　warriors　who　made　the　last　struggle　for

Granada　were　all　shut　up　in　the　mountain　by　powerful　enchantment。　As

for　the　king　and　army　that　marched　forth　from　Granada　at　the　time　of

the　surrender；　they　were　a　mere　phantom　train　of　spirits　and　demons；

permitted　to　assume　those　shapes　to　deceive　the　Christian

sovereigns。　And　furthermore　let　me　tell　you；　friend；　that　all　Spain　is

a　country　under　the　power　of　enchantment。　There　is　not　a　mountain

cave；　not　a　lonely　watchtower　in　the　plains；　nor　ruined　castle　on

the　hills；　but　has　some　spell…bound　warriors　sleeping　from　age　to

age　within　its　vaults；　until　the　sins　are　expiated　for　which　Allah

permitted　the　dominion　to　pass　for　a　time　out　of　the　hands　of　the

faithful。　Once　every　year；　on　the　eve　of　St。　John；　they　are　released

from　enchantment；　from　sunset　to　sunrise；　and　permitted　to　repair　here

to　pay　homage　to　their　sovereign！　and　the　crowds　which　you　beheld

swarming　into　the　cavern　are　Moslem　warriors　from　their　haunts　in

all　parts　of　Spain。　For　my　own　part；　you　saw　the　ruined　tower　of　the

bridge　in　Old　Castile；　where　I　have　now　wintered　and　summered　for　many

hundred　years；　and　where　I　must　be　back　again　by　daybreak。　As　to　the

battalions　of　horse　and　foot　which　you　beheld　drawn　up　in　array　in　the

neighboring　caverns；　they　are　the　spell…bound　warriors　of　Granada。

It　is　written　in　the　book　of　fate；　that　when　the　enchantment　is

broken；　Boabdil　will　descend　from　the　mountain　at　the　head　of　this

army；　resume　his　throne　in　the　Alhambra　and　his　sway　of　Granada；　and

gathering　together　the　enchanted　warriors；　from　all　parts　of　Spain；

will　reconquer　the　Peninsula　and　restore　it　to　Moslem　rule。'

　　〃'And　when　shall　this　happen？'　said　I。

　　〃'Allah　alone　knows：　we　had　hoped　the　day　of　deliverance　was　at

hand；　but　there　reigns　at　present　a　vigilant　governor　in　the　Alhambra；


a　stanch　old　soldier；　well　known　as　Governor　Manco。　While　such　a

warrior　holds　command　of　the　very　outpost；　and　stands　ready　to　check

the　first　irruption　from　the　mountain；　I　fear　Boabdil　and　his　soldiery

must　be　content　to　rest　upon　their　arms。'

　　Here　the　governor　raised　himself　somewhat　perpendicularly；

adjusted　his　sword；　and　twirled　up　his　mustaches。

　　〃To　make　a　long　story　short；　and　not　to　fatigue　your　excellency；　the

trooper；　having　given　me　this　account；　dismounted　from　his　steed。

　　〃'Tarry　here；'　said　he；　'and　guard　my　steed　while　I　go　and　bow　the

knee　to　Boabdil。'　So　saying；　he　strode　away　among　the　throng　that

pressed　forward　to　the　throne。

　　〃'What's　to　be　done？'　thought　I；　when　thus　left　to　myself；　'shall

I　wait　here　until　this　infidel　returns　to　whisk　me　off　on　his　goblin

steed；　the　Lord　knows　where；　or　shall　I　make　the　most　of　my　time　and

beat　a　retreat　from　this　hobgoblin　community？　A　soldier's　mind　is　soon

made　up；　as　your　excellency　well　knows。　As　to　the　horse；　he　belonged

to　an　avowed　enemy　of　the　faith　and　the　realm；　and　was　a　fair　prize

according　to　the　rules　of　war。　So　hoisting　mysel