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his guest； the famous Don Quixote of La Mancha； of whom the commandant
and all the citizens had already heard； that afternoon to see them；
and what happened on board of them will be told in the next chapter。
CHAPTER LXIII
OF THE MISHAP THAT BEFELL SANCHO PANZA THROUGH THE VISIT TO THE
GALLEYS； AND THE STRANGE ADVENTURE OF THE FAIR MORISCO
PROFOUND were Don Quixote's reflections on the reply of the
enchanted head； not one of them； however； hitting on the secret of the
trick； but all concentrated on the promise； which he regarded as a
certainty； of Dulcinea's disenchantment。 This he turned over in his
mind again and again with great satisfaction； fully persuaded that
he would shortly see its fulfillment； and as for Sancho； though； as
has been said； he hated being a governor； still he had a longing to be
giving orders and finding himself obeyed once more； this is the
misfortune that being in authority； even in jest； brings with it。
To resume； that afternoon their host Don Antonio Moreno and his
two friends； with Don Quixote and Sancho； went to the galleys。 The
commandant had been already made aware of his good fortune in seeing
two such famous persons as Don Quixote and Sancho； and the instant
they came to the shore all the galleys struck their awnings and the
clarions rang out。 A skiff covered with rich carpets and cushions of
crimson velvet was immediately lowered into the water； and as Don
Quixote stepped on board of it； the leading galley fired her gangway
gun； and the other galleys did the same； and as he mounted the
starboard ladder the whole crew saluted him （as is the custom when a
personage of distinction comes on board a galley） by exclaiming 〃Hu；
hu； hu；〃 three times。 The general； for so we shall call him； a
Valencian gentleman of rank； gave him his hand and embraced him；
saying； 〃I shall mark this day with a white stone as one of the
happiest I can expect to enjoy in my lifetime； since I have seen Senor
Don Quixote of La Mancha； pattern and image wherein we see contained
and condensed all that is worthy in knight…errantry。〃
Don Quixote delighted beyond measure with such a lordly reception；
replied to him in words no less courteous。 All then proceeded to the
poop； which was very handsomely decorated； and seated themselves on
the bulwark benches； the boatswain passed along the gangway and
piped all hands to strip； which they did in an instant。 Sancho； seeing
such a number of men stripped to the skin； was taken aback； and
still more when he saw them spread the awning so briskly that it
seemed to him as if all the devils were at work at it； but all this
was cakes and fancy bread to what I am going to tell now。 Sancho was
seated on the captain's stage； close to the aftermost rower on the
right…hand side。 He； previously instructed in what he was to do；
laid hold of Sancho； hoisting him up in his arms； and the whole
crew； who were standing ready； beginning on the right； proceeded to
pass him on； whirling him along from hand to hand and from bench to
bench with such rapidity that it took the sight out of poor Sancho's
eyes； and he made quite sure that the devils themselves were flying
away with him； nor did they leave off with him until they had sent him
back along the left side and deposited him on the poop； and the poor
fellow was left bruised and breathless and all in a sweat； and
unable to comprehend what it was that had happened to him。
Don Quixote when he saw Sancho's flight without wings asked the
general if this was a usual ceremony with those who came on board
the galleys for the first time； for； if so； as he had no intention
of adopting them as a profession； he had no mind to perform such feats
of agility； and if anyone offered to lay hold of him to whirl him
about； he vowed to God he would kick his soul out； and as he said this
he stood up and clapped his hand upon his sword。 At this instant
they struck the awning and lowered the yard with a prodigious
rattle。 Sancho thought heaven was coming off its hinges and going to
fall on his head； and full of terror he ducked it and buried it
between his knees； nor were Don Quixote's knees altogether under
control； for he too shook a little； squeezed his shoulders together
and lost colour。 The crew then hoisted the yard with the same rapidity
and clatter as when they lowered it； all the while keeping silence
as though they had neither voice nor breath。 The boatswain gave the
signal to weigh anchor； and leaping upon the middle of the gangway
began to lay on to the shoulders of the crew with his courbash or
whip； and to haul out gradually to sea。
When Sancho saw so many red feet （for such he took the oars to be）
moving all together； he said to himself； 〃It's these that are the real
chanted things； and not the ones my master talks of。 What can those
wretches have done to be so whipped； and how does that one man who
goes along there whistling dare to whip so many？ I declare this is
hell； or at least purgatory！〃
Don Quixote； observing how attentively Sancho regarded what was
going on； said to him； 〃Ah； Sancho my friend； how quickly and
cheaply might you finish off the disenchantment of Dulcinea； if you
would strip to the waist and take your place among those gentlemen！
Amid the pain and sufferings of so many you would not feel your own
much； and moreover perhaps the sage Merlin would allow each of these
lashes； being laid on with a good hand； to count for ten of those
which you must give yourself at last。〃
The general was about to ask what these lashes were； and what was
Dulcinea's disenchantment； when a sailor exclaimed； 〃Monjui signals
that there is an oared vessel off the coast to the west。〃
On hearing this the general sprang upon the gangway crying； 〃Now
then； my sons； don't let her give us the slip！ It must be some
Algerine corsair brigantine that the watchtower signals to us。〃 The
three others immediately came alongside the chief galley to receive
their orders。 The general ordered two to put out to sea while he
with the other kept in shore； so that in this way the vessel could not
escape them。 The crews plied the oars driving the galleys so furiously
that they seemed to fly。 The two that had put out to sea； after a
couple of miles sighted a vessel which； so far as they could make out；
they judged to be one of fourteen or fifteen banks； and so she proved。
As soon as the vessel discovered the galleys she went about with the
object and in the hope of making her escape by her speed； but the
attempt failed； for the chief galley was one of the fastest vessels
afloat； and overhauled her so rapidly that they on board the
brigantine saw clearly there was no possibility of escaping； and the
rais therefore would have had them drop their oars and give themselves
up so as not to provoke the captain in command of our galleys to
anger。 But chance； directing things otherwise； so ordered it that just
as the chief galley came close enough for those on board the vessel to
hear the shouts from her calling on them to surrender； two Toraquis；
that is to say two Turks； both drunken； that with a dozen more were on
board the brigantine； discharged their muskets； killing