"
He had hardly spoken the words, when the keen alguazil darted off,
and reappeared in an instant with the mysterious box of sandalwood.
The alcalde opened it with an eager and trembling hand; all pressed
forward to gaze upon the treasure it was expected to contain, when, to
their disappointment, nothing appeared within, but a parchment scroll,
covered with Arabic characters, and an end of a waxen taper.
When there is nothing to be gained by the conviction of a
prisoner, justice, even in Spain, is apt to be impartial. The alcalde,
having recovered from his disappointment, and found that there was
really no booty in the case, now listened dispassionately to the
explanation of the water-carrier, which was corroborated by the
testimony of his wife. Being convinced, therefore, of his innocence,
he discharged him from arrest; nay more, he permitted him to carry off
the Moor's legacy, the box of sandalwood and its contents, as the
well-merited reward of his humanity; but he retained his donkey in
payment of costs and charges.
Behold the unfortunate little Gallego reduced once more to the
necessity of being his own water-carrier, and trudging up to the
well of the Alhambra with a great earthen jar upon his shoulder.
As he toiled up the hill in the heat of a summer noon, his usual
good humor forsook him. "Dog of an alcalde!" would he cry, "to rob a
poor man of the means of his subsistence, of the best friend he had in
the world!" And then at the remembrance of the beloved companion of
his labors, all the kindness of his nature would break forth.
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