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.
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