At noon we halted in sight of Archidona, in a pleasant little meadow
among hills covered with olive-trees. Our cloaks were spread on the
grass, under an elm by the side of a bubbling rivulet; our horses were
tethered where they might crop the herbage, and Sancho was told to
produce his alforjas. He had been unusually silent this morning ever
since the laugh raised at his expense, but now his countenance
brightened, and he produced his alforjas with an air of triumph.
They contained the contributions of four days' journeying, but had
been signally enriched by the foraging of the previous evening in
the plenteous inn at Antiquera; and this seemed to furnish him with
a set-off to the banter of mine host.
EN FRENTE DEL TORO
SE HALLEN TESORO
would he exclaim, with a chuckling laugh, as he drew forth the
heterogeneous contents one by one, in a series which seemed to have no
end. First came forth a shoulder of roasted kid, very little the worse
for wear; then an entire partridge; then a great morsel of salted
codfish wrapped in paper; then the residue of a ham; then the half
of a pullet, together with several rolls of bread, and a rabble rout
of oranges, figs, raisins, and walnuts. His bota also had been
recruited with some excellent wine of Malaga. At every fresh
apparition from his larder, he would enjoy our ludicrous surprise,
throwing himself back on the grass, shouting with laughter, and
exclaiming "Frente del toro!- frente del toro! Ah, senores, they
thought Sancho a simpleton at Antiquera; but Sancho knew where to find
the tesoro.
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