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was about to lead it forth when the ALCALDE of the village； the surgeon； and twelve other men； some of whom were armed with muskets； suddenly presented themselves。 They instantly made Vitoriano prisoner； and； after seizing the books and laying an embargo on the pony； proceeded amidst much abuse to drag their captive to what they denominated their prison； a low damp apartment with a little grated window； where they locked him up and left him。 At the expiration of three quarters of an hour they again appeared； and conducted him to the house of the curate； where they sat down in conclave； the curate who was a man stone…blind being president； whilst the sacristan officiated as secretary。 The surgeon having stated his accusation against the prisoner； namely； that he had detected him in the fact of selling a version of the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue； the curate proceeded to examine Vitoriano； asking him his name and place of residence … to which he replied that his name was Vitoriano Lopez； and that he was a native of Villa Seca in the Sagra of Toledo。 The curate then demanded what religion he professed； and whether he was a Mahometan or freemason； and received for answer that he was a Roman Catholic。 I must here state that Vitoriano； though sufficiently shrewd in his way； is a poor old labourer of sixty…four； and until that moment had never heard of Mahometans or freemasons。 The curate becoming now incensed； called him a TUNANTE or scoundrel； and added； 'You have sold your soul to a heretic； we have long been aware of your proceedings； and those of your master。 You are the same Lopez； whom he last year rescued from the prison of Villallos； in the province of Avila。 I sincerely hope that he will attempt to do the same thing here。' 'Yes； yes；' shouted the rest of the conclave； 'let him but venture here； and we will shed his heart's blood on our stones。' In this manner they went on for nearly half…an…hour； at last they broke up the meeting and conducted Vitoriano once more to his prison。
During his confinement he lived tolerably well； being in possession of money； his meals were sent him twice a day from the POSADA； where his pony remained in embargo。 Once or twice he asked permission of the ALCALDE； who visited him every night and morning with his armed guard； to purchase pen and paper； in order that he might write to Madrid； but this favour was peremptorily refused him； and all the inhabitants of the village were forbidden under terrible penalties to afford him the means of writing； or to convey any message from him beyond the precincts of the place； and two boys were stationed before the window of his cell for the purpose of watching everything which might be conveyed to him。 It happened one day that Vitoriano； being in need of a pillow for his head； sent word to the people of the POSADA to send him his ALFORJAS or saddle…bags； which they did。 In these bags there chanced to be a kind of rope or； as it is called in Spanish； SOGA； with which he was in the habit of fastening his satchel to the pony's back。 The urchins seeing an end of this rope hanging from the ALFORJAS instantly ran to the ALCALDE to give him information。 Late at evening the ALCALDE again visited the prisoner； at the head of his twelve men as usual。 'BUENAS NOCHES；' said the ALCALDE。 'BUENAS NOCHES TENGA USTED；' replied Vitoriano。 'For what purpose did you send for the SOGA this afternoon？' demanded the functionary。 'I sent for no SOGA；' said the prisoner； 'I sent for my ALFORJAS to serve as a pillow； and it was sent in them by chance。' 'Thou art a false malicious knave；' retorted the ALCALDE； 'you intend to hang yourself； and by so doing ruin us all； as your death would be laid to our door。 Give me the SOGA。' No greater insult can be offered to a Spaniard； than to tax him with an intention of committing suicide。 Poor Vitoriano flew into a violent rage； and after calling the ALCALDE several uncivil names； he pulled the SOGA from his bags； and flinging it at his head； told him to take it home and use it for his own neck。
At length the people of the POSADA took pity on the prisoner； perceiving that he was very harshly treated for no crime at all。 They therefore determined to afford him an opportunity of informing his friends of his situation； and accordingly sent him a pen and inkhorn； concealed in a loaf of bread； and a piece of writing… paper； pretending that the latter was intended for cigars。 So Vitoriano wrote the letter； but now ensued the difficulty of sending it to its destination； as no person in the village dare have carried it for any reward。 The good people； however； persuaded a disbanded soldier from another village； who chanced to be at Fuente La Higuera in quest of work； to charge himself with it； promising that I would pay him well for his trouble。 The man； watching his opportunity； received the letter from Vitoriano at the window； and it was he who； after travelling on foot all night； delivered it to me in safety at Madrid。
I was now relieved from my anxiety； and had no fears for the result。 I instantly went to a friend who is in possession of large estates about Guadalajara； in which province Fuente La Higuera is situated； who furnished me with letters to the Civil Governor of Guadalajara and all the principal authorities； and at Antonio's request； I despatched him upon the errand of the prisoner's liberation。 He first directed his course to Fuente La Higuera； where entering the ALCALDE'S house he boldly told him what he had come about。 The ALCALDE； expecting that I was at hand with an army of Englishmen for the purpose of rescuing the prisoner； became greatly alarmed； and instantly despatched his wife to summon his twelve men。 However； on Antonio's assuring him that there was no intention of having recourse to violence； he became more tranquil。 In a little time Antonio was summoned before the conclave and its blind sacerdotal president。 They at first attempted to frighten him； by assuming a loud bullying tone and talking of the necessity of killing all strangers； and especially the detested Don Jorge and his dependents。 Antonio； however； who is not a person apt to allow himself to be easily terrified； scoffed at their threats； and showing them his letters to the authorities of Guadalajara said that he should proceed there on the morrow and denounce their lawless conduct； adding that he was a Turkish subject； and that should they dare to offer him the slightest incivility he would write to the Sublime Porte； in comparison with whom the best kings in the world were but worms； and who would not fail to avenge the wrongs of any of his children； however distant； in a manner too terrible to be mentioned。 He then returned to his POSADA。 The conclave now proceeded to deliberate among themselves； and at last determined to despatch their prisoner on the morrow to Guadalajara； and deliver him into the hands of the Civil Governor。
Nevertheless； in order to keep up a semblance of authority； they that night placed two men armed at the door of the POSADA where Antonio was lodged； as if he himself were a prisone