"I am by no means certain that they are either one or the other," repeated he, advancing forward."I have been examining this man," pointing to myself, "and listening whilst he spoke, and it appears to me that after all he may prove an Englishman;he has their very look and voice.Who knows the English better than Antonio de la Trava, and who has a better right? Has he not sailed in their ships; has he not eaten their biscuit; and did he not stand by Nelson when he was shot dead?"Here the alcalde became violently incensed."He is no more an Englishman than yourself," he exclaimed; "if he were an Englishman would he have come in this manner, skulking across the land? Not so I trow.He would have come in a ship, recommended to some of us, or to the Catalans.He would have come to trade, to buy; but nobody knows him in Finisterra, nor does he know anybody: and the first thing, moreover, that he does when he reaches this place is to inspect the fort, and to ascend the mountain where, no doubt, he has been marking out a camp.What brings him to Finisterra if he is neither Calros nor a bribon of a faccioso?"I felt that there was a good deal of justice in some of these remarks, and I was aware, for the first time, that I had, indeed, committed a great imprudence in coming to this wild place, and among these barbarous people, without being able to assign any motive which could appear at all valid in their eyes.I endeavoured to convince the alcalde that I had come across the country for the purpose of making myself acquainted with the many remarkable objects which it contained, and of obtaining information respecting the character and condition of the inhabitants.He could understand no such motives."What did you ascend the mountain for?" "To see prospects.""Disparate! I have lived at Finisterra forty years and never ascended that mountain.I would not do it in a day like this for two ounces of gold.You went to take altitudes, and to mark out a camp." I had, however, a staunch friend in old Antonio, who insisted, from his knowledge of the English, that all I had said might very possibly be true."The English,"said he, "have more money than they know what to do with, and on that account they wander all over the world, paying dearly for what no other people care a groat for." He then proceeded, notwithstanding the frowns of the alcalde, to examine me in the English language.His own entire knowledge of this tongue was confined to two words - KNIFE and FORK, which words I rendered into Spanish by their equivalents, and was forthwith pronounced an Englishman by the old fellow, who, brandishing his musket, exclaimed:-"This man is not Calros; he is what he declares himself to be, an Englishman, and whosoever seeks to injure him, shall have to do with Antonio de la Trava el valiente de Finisterra."No person sought to impugn this verdict, and it was at length determined that I should be sent to Corcuvion, to be examined by the alcalde mayor of the district."But," said the alcalde of Finisterra, "what is to be done with the other fellow? He at least is no Englishman.Bring him forward, and let us hear what he has to say for himself.Now, fellow, who are you, and what is your master?"GUIDE.- I am Sebastianillo, a poor broken mariner of Padron, and my master for the present is the gentleman whom you see, the most valiant and wealthy of all the English.He has two ships at Vigo laden with riches.I told you so when you first seized me up there in our posada.
ALCALDE.- Where is your passport?
GUIDE.- I have no passport.Who would think of bringing a passport to such a place as this, where I don't suppose there are two individuals who can read? I have no passport; my master's passport of course includes me.
ALCALDE.- It does not.And since you have no passport, and have confessed that your name is Sebastian, you shall be shot.Antonio de la Trava, do you and the musketeers lead this Sebastianillo forth, and shoot him before the door.
ANTONIO DE LA TRAVA.- With much pleasure, Senor Alcalde, since you order it.With respect to this fellow, I shall not trouble myself to interfere.He at least is no Englishman.He has more the look of a wizard or nuveiro; one of those devils who raise storms and sink launches.Moreover, he says he is from Padron, and those of that place are all thieves and drunkards.They once played me a trick, and I would gladly be at the shooting of the whole pueblo.
I now interfered, and said that if they shot the guide they must shoot me too; expatiating at the same time on the cruelty and barbarity of taking away the life of a poor unfortunate fellow who, as might be seen at the first glance, was only half witted; adding, moreover, that if any person was guilty in this case it was myself, as the other could only be considered in the light of a servant acting under my orders.
"The safest plan after all," said the alcalde, "appears to be, to send you both prisoners to Corcuvion, where the head alcalde can dispose of you as he thinks proper.You must, however, pay for your escort; for it is not to be supposed that the housekeepers of Finisterra have nothing else to do than to ramble about the country with every chance fellow who finds his way to this town." "As for that matter," said Antonio, "I will take charge of them both.I am the valiente of Finisterra, and fear no two men living.Moreover, I am sure that the captain here will make it worth my while, else he is no Englishman.
Therefore let us be quick and set out for Corcuvion at once, as it is getting late.First of all, however, captain, I must search you and your baggage.You have no arms, of course? But it is best to make all sure."Long ere it was dark I found myself again on the pony, in company with my guide, wending our way along the beach in the direction of Corcuvion.Antonio de la Trava tramped heavily on before, his musket on his shoulder.
MYSELF.- Are you not afraid, Antonio, to be thus alone with two prisoners, one of whom is on horseback? If we were to try, I think we could overpower you.
