Turning our eyes in the direction of Spain, however, we perceived a magnificent conflagration seemingly enveloping the side and head of one of the lofty mountains northward of Tarifa; the blaze was redly reflected in the waters of the strait; either the brushwood was burning or the Carboneros were plying their dusky toil.The Jews now complained, of weariness, and the younger, uncording a small mattress, spread it on the deck and sought repose.The sage descended into the cabin, but he had scarcely time to lie down ere the old mate, darting forward, dived in after him, and pulled him out by the heels, for it was very shallow, and the descent was effected by not more than two or three steps.After accomplishing this, he called him many opprobrious names, and threatened him with his foot, as he lay sprawling on the deck."Think you," said he, "who are a dog and a Jew, and pay as a dog and a Jew; think you to sleep in the cabin? Undeceive yourself, beast; that cabin shall be slept in by none to-night but this Christian Cavallero." The sage made no reply, but arose from the deck and stroked his beard, whilst the old Genoese proceeded in his philippic.Had the Jew been disposed, he could have strangled the insulter in a moment, or crushed him to death in his brawny arms, as I never remember to have seen a figure so powerful and muscular; but he was evidently slow to anger, and long-suffering; not a resentful word escaped him, and his features retained their usual expression of benignant placidity.
I now assured the mate that I had not the slightest objection to the Jew's sharing the cabin with me, but rather wished it, as there was room for us both and for more."Excuse me, Sir Cavalier," replied the Genoese, "but I swear to permit no such thing; you are young and do not know this canaille as Ido, who have been backward and forward to this coast for twenty years; if the beast is cold, let him sleep below the hatches as I and the rest shall, but that cabin he shall not enter."Observing that he was obstinate I retired, and in a few minutes was in a sound sleep which lasted till daybreak.Twice or thrice, indeed, I thought that a struggle was taking place near me, but I was so overpowered with weariness, or "sleep drunken," as the Germans call it, that I was unable to arouse myself sufficiently to discover what was going on; the truth is, that three times during the night, the sage feeling himself uncomfortable in the open air by the side of his companion, penetrated into the cabin, and was as many times dragged out by his relentless old enemy, who, suspecting his intentions, kept his eye upon him throughout the night.
About five I arose; the sun was shining brightly and gloriously upon town, bay, and mountain; the crew were already employed upon deck repairing a sail which had been shivered in the wind of the preceding day.The Jews sat disconsolate on the poop; they complained much of the cold they had suffered in their exposed situation.Over the left eye of the sage Iobserved a bloody cut, which he informed me he had received from the old Genoese after he had dragged him out of the cabin for the last time.I now produced my bottle of Cognac, begging that the crew would partake of it as a slight return for their hospitality.They thanked me, and the bottle went its round;it was last in the hands of the old mate, who, after looking for a moment at the sage, raised it to his mouth, where he kept it a considerable time longer than any of his companions, after which he returned it to me with a low bow.The sage now inquired what the bottle contained: I told him Cognac or aguardiente, whereupon with some eagerness he begged that Iwould allow him to take a draught."How is this?" said I;"yesterday you told me that it was a forbidden thing, an abomination." "Yesterday," said he, "I was not aware that it was brandy; I thought it wine, which assuredly is an abomination, and a forbidden thing." "Is it forbidden in the Torah?" I inquired."Is it forbidden in the law of God?" "Iknow not," said he, "but one thing I know, that the sages have forbidden it." "Sages like yourself," cried I with warmth;"sages like yourself, with long beards and short understandings: the use of both drinks is permitted, but more danger lurks in this bottle than in a tun of wine.Well said my Lord the Nazarene, `ye strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel'; but as you are cold and shivering, take the bottle and revive yourself with a small portion of its contents." He put it to his lips and found not a single drop.The old Genoese grinned.
"Bestia," said he, "I saw by your looks that you wished to drink of that bottle, and I said within me, even though Isuffocate, yet will I not leave one drop of the aguardiente of the Christian Cavalier to be wasted on that Jew, on whose head may evil lightnings fall.""Now, Sir Cavalier," he continued, "you can go ashore;these two sailors shall row you to the Mole, and convey your baggage where you think proper; may the Virgin bless you wherever you go."
