按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
never did freebooter's bag make more gorgeous delivery。 Out tumbled
rings； and jewels； and rosaries of pearls； and sparkling diamond
crosses； and a profusion of ancient golden coin； some of which fell
jingling to the floor； and rolled away to the uttermost parts of the
chamber。
For a time the functions of justice were suspended； there was a
universal scramble after the glittering fugitives。 The governor alone；
who was imbued with true Spanish pride； maintained his stately
decorum； though his eye betrayed a little anxiety until the last
coin and jewel was restored to the sack。
The friar was not so calm； his whole face glowed like a furnace； and
his eyes twinkled and flashed at sight of the rosaries and crosses。
〃Sacrilegious wretch that thou art！〃 exclaimed he； 〃what church or
sanctuary hast thou been plundering of these sacred relics？〃
〃Neither one nor the other； holy father。 If they be sacrilegious
spoils； they must have been taken； in times long past； by the
infidel trooper I have mentioned。 I was just going to tell his
excellency when he interrupted me； that on taking possession of the
trooper's horse； I unhooked a leathern sack which hung at the
saddle…bow； and which I presume contained the plunder of his
campaignings in days of old； when the Moors overran the country。〃
〃Mighty well； at present you will make up your mind to take up
your quarters in a chamber of the Vermilion Tower； which； though not
under a magic spell； will hold you as safe as any cave of your
enchanted Moors。〃
〃Your excellency will do as you think proper；〃 said the prisoner；
coolly。 〃I shall be thankful to your excellency for any
accommodation in the fortress。 A soldier who has been in the wars；
as your excellency well knows； is not particular about his lodgings：
provided I have a snug dungeon and regular rations； I shall manage
to make myself comfortable。 I would only entreat that while your
excellency is so careful about me； you would have an eye to your
fortress； and think on the hint I dropped about stopping up the
entrances to the mountain。〃
Here ended the scene。 The prisoner was conducted to a strong dungeon
in the Vermilion Tower； the Arabian steed was led to his
excellency's stable； and the trooper's sack was deposited in his
excellency's strong box。 To the latter； it is true； the friar made
some demur； questioning whether the sacred relics； which were
evidently sacrilegious spoils； should not be placed in custody of
the church； but as the governor was peremptory on the subject； and was
absolute lord in the Alhambra； the friar discreetly dropped the
discussion； but determined to convey intelligence of the fact to the
church dignitaries in Granada。
To explain these prompt and rigid measures on the part of old
Governor Manco； it is proper to observe； that about this time the
Alpuxarra mountains in the neighborhood of Granada were terribly
infested by a gang of robbers； under the command of a daring chief
named Manuel Borasco； who were accustomed to prowl about the
country； and even to enter the city in various disguises； to gain
intelligence of the departure of convoys of merchandise； or travellers
with well…lined purses； whom they took care to waylay in distant and
solitary passes of the road。 These repeated and daring outrages had
awakened the attention of government； and the commanders of the
various posts had received instructions to be on the alert； and to
take up all suspicious stragglers。 Governor Manco was particularly
zealous in consequence of the various stigmas that had been cast
upon his fortress； and he now doubted not he had entrapped some
formidable desperado of this gang。
In the mean time the story took wind； and became the talk； not
merely of the fortress； but of the whole city of Granada。 It was
said that the noted robber Manuel Borasco； the terror of the
Alpuxarras； had fallen into the clutches of old Governor Manco； and
been cooped up by him in a dungeon of the Vermilion Tower； and every
one who had been robbed by him flocked to recognize the marauder。
The Vermilion Tower； as is well known； stands apart from the
Alhambra on a sister hill； separated from the main fortress by the
ravine down which passes the main avenue。 There were no outer walls；
but a sentinel patrolled before the tower。 The window of the chamber
in which the soldier was confined was strongly grated； and looked upon
a small esplanade。 Here the good folks of Granada repaired to gaze
at him； as they would at a laughing hyena； grinning through the cage
of a menagerie。 Nobody； however； recognized him for Manuel Borasco；
for that terrible robber was noted for a ferocious physiognomy； and
had by no means the good…humored squint of the prisoner。 Visitors came
not merely from the city； but from all parts of the country； but
nobody knew him； and there began to be doubts in the minds of the
common people whether there might not be some truth in his story。 That
Boabdil and his army were shut up in the mountain； was an old
tradition which many of the ancient inhabitants had heard from their
fathers。 Numbers went up to the mountain of the sun； or rather of
St。 Elena； in search of the cave mentioned by the soldier； and saw and
peeped into the deep dark pit； descending； no one knows how far；
into the mountain； and which remains there to this day… the fabled
entrance to the subterranean abode of Boabdil。
By degrees the soldier became popular with the common people。 A
freebooter of the mountains is by no means the opprobrious character
in Spain that a robber is in any other country： on the contrary； he is
a kind of chivalrous personage in the eyes of the lower classes。 There
is always a disposition； also； to cavil at the conduct of those in
command； and many began to murmur at the high…handed measures of old
Governor Manco； and to look upon the prisoner in the light of a
martyr。
The soldier； moreover； was a merry； waggish fellow； that had a
joke for every one who came near his window； and a soft speech for
every female。 He had procured an old guitar also； and would sit by his
window and sing ballads and love…ditties to the delight of the women
of the neighborhood； who would assemble on the esplanade in the
evening and dance boleros to his music。 Having trimmed off his rough
beard； his sunburnt face found favor in the eyes of the fair； and
the demure handmaid of the governor declared that his squint was
perfectly irresistible。 This kind…hearted damsel had from the first
evinced a deep sympathy in his fortunes； and having in vain tried to
mollify the governor； had set to work privately to mitigate the
rigor of his dispensations。 Every day she brought the prisoner some
crumbs of comfort which had fallen from the governor's table； or
been abstracted from his larder； together with； now and then； a
consoling bottle of choice Val de Penas； or rich Malaga。
While this petty treason was going on； in the very centre of the old
governor's citadel；