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was some little jealousy she caused him that crossed the line and
trespassed on forbidden ground； and so much did the shepherd hate
her from that time forward that； in order to escape from her； he
determined to quit the country and go where he should never set eyes
on her again。 Torralva； when she found herself spurned by Lope； was
immediately smitten with love for him； though she had never loved
him before。〃
〃That is the natural way of women；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃to scorn
the one that loves them； and love the one that hates them： go on；
Sancho。〃
〃It came to pass；〃 said Sancho； 〃that the shepherd carried out his
intention； and driving his goats before him took his way across the
plains of Estremadura to pass over into the Kingdom of Portugal。
Torralva； who knew of it； went after him； and on foot and barefoot
followed him at a distance； with a pilgrim's staff in her hand and a
scrip round her neck； in which she carried； it is said； a bit of
looking…glass and a piece of a comb and some little pot or other of
paint for her face； but let her carry what she did； I am not going
to trouble myself to prove it； all I say is； that the shepherd； they
say； came with his flock to cross over the river Guadiana； which was
at that time swollen and almost overflowing its banks； and at the spot
he came to there was neither ferry nor boat nor anyone to carry him or
his flock to the other side； at which he was much vexed； for he
perceived that Torralva was approaching and would give him great
annoyance with her tears and entreaties； however； he went looking
about so closely that he discovered a fisherman who had alongside of
him a boat so small that it could only hold one person and one goat；
but for all that he spoke to him and agreed with him to carry
himself and his three hundred goats across。 The fisherman got into the
boat and carried one goat over； he came back and carried another over；
he came back again； and again brought over another… let your worship
keep count of the goats the fisherman is taking across； for if one
escapes the memory there will be an end of the story； and it will be
impossible to tell another word of it。 To proceed； I must tell you the
landing place on the other side was miry and slippery； and the
fisherman lost a great deal of time in going and coming； still he
returned for another goat； and another； and another。〃
〃Take it for granted he brought them all across；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃and don't keep going and coming in this way； or thou wilt
not make an end of bringing them over this twelvemonth。〃
〃How many have gone across so far？〃 said Sancho。
〃How the devil do I know？〃 replied Don Quixote。
〃There it is；〃 said Sancho； 〃what I told you； that you must keep a
good count； well then； by God； there is an end of the story； for there
is no going any farther。〃
〃How can that be？〃 said Don Quixote； 〃is it so essential to the
story to know to a nicety the goats that have crossed over； that if
there be a mistake of one in the reckoning； thou canst not go on
with it？〃
〃No； senor； not a bit；〃 replied Sancho； 〃for when I asked your
worship to tell me how many goats had crossed； and you answered you
did not know； at that very instant all I had to say passed away out of
my memory； and； faith； there was much virtue in it； and
entertainment。〃
〃So； then；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃the story has come to an end？〃
〃As much as my mother has；〃 said Sancho。
〃In truth；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃thou hast told one of the rarest
stories； tales； or histories； that anyone in the world could have
imagined； and such a way of telling it and ending it was never seen
nor will be in a lifetime； though I expected nothing else from thy
excellent understanding。 But I do not wonder； for perhaps those
ceaseless strokes may have confused thy wits。〃
〃All that may be；〃 replied Sancho； 〃but I know that as to my
story； all that can be said is that it ends there where the mistake in
the count of the passage of the goats begins。〃
〃Let it end where it will； well and good；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and
let us see if Rocinante can go；〃 and again he spurred him； and again
Rocinante made jumps and remained where he was； so well tied was he。
Just then； whether it was the cold of the morning that was now
approaching； or that he had eaten something laxative at supper； or
that it was only natural （as is most likely）； Sancho felt a desire
to do what no one could do for him； but so great was the fear that had
penetrated his heart； he dared not separate himself from his master by
as much as the black of his nail； to escape doing what he wanted
was； however； also impossible； so what he did for peace's sake was
to remove his right hand； which held the back of the saddle； and
with it to untie gently and silently the running string which alone
held up his breeches； so that on loosening it they at once fell down
round his feet like fetters； he then raised his shirt as well as he
could and bared his hind quarters； no slim ones。 But； this
accomplished； which he fancied was all he had to do to get out of this
terrible strait and embarrassment； another still greater difficulty
presented itself； for it seemed to him impossible to relieve himself
without making some noise； and he ground his teeth and squeezed his
shoulders together； holding his breath as much as he could； but in
spite of his precautions he was unlucky enough after all to make a
little noise； very different from that which was causing him so much
fear。
Don Quixote； hearing it； said； 〃What noise is that； Sancho？〃
〃I don't know； senor；〃 said he； 〃it must be something new； for
adventures and misadventures never begin with a trifle。〃 Once more
he tried his luck； and succeeded so well； that without any further
noise or disturbance he found himself relieved of the burden that
had given him so much discomfort。 But as Don Quixote's sense of
smell was as acute as his hearing； and as Sancho was so closely linked
with him that the fumes rose almost in a straight line； it could not
be but that some should reach his nose； and as soon as they did he
came to its relief by compressing it between his fingers； saying in
a rather snuffing tone； 〃Sancho； it strikes me thou art in great
fear。〃
〃I am；〃 answered Sancho； 〃but how does your worship perceive it
now more than ever？〃
〃Because just now thou smellest stronger than ever； and not of
ambergris；〃 answered Don Quixote。
〃Very likely；〃 said Sancho； 〃but that's not my fault； but your
worship's； for leading me about at unseasonable hours and at such
unwonted paces。〃
〃Then go back three or four； my friend；〃 said Don Quixote； all the
time with his fingers to his nose； 〃and for the future pay more
attention to thy person and to what thou owest to mine； for it is my
great familiarity with thee that has bred this contempt。〃
〃I'll bet；〃 replied Sancho； 〃that your worship thinks I have done
something I ought not with my person。〃
〃It makes it worse to stir it； friend Sancho；〃 returned Don Quixote。
With this and other talk of the same sort master and man passed
the night； till Sancho； perceiving that daybreak was coming on
apace； very cautiously untied Rocinante and tie