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！
The Knight of the Rueful Countenance was still very anxious to
find out who the owner of the valise could be； conjecturing from the
sonnet and letter； from the money in gold； and from the fineness of
the shirts； that he must be some lover of distinction whom the scorn
and cruelty of his lady had driven to some desperate course； but as in
that uninhabited and rugged spot there was no one to be seen of whom
he could inquire； he saw nothing else for it but to push on； taking
whatever road Rocinante chose… which was where he could make his
way… firmly persuaded that among these wilds he could not fail to meet
some rare adventure。 As he went along； then； occupied with these
thoughts； he perceived on the summit of a height that rose before
their eyes a man who went springing from rock to rock and from tussock
to tussock with marvellous agility。 As well as he could make out he
was unclad； with a thick black beard； long tangled hair； and bare legs
and feet； his thighs were covered by breeches apparently of tawny
velvet but so ragged that they showed his skin in several places。 He
was bareheaded； and notwithstanding the swiftness with which he passed
as has been described； the Knight of the Rueful Countenance observed
and noted all these trifles； and though he made the attempt； he was
unable to follow him； for it was not granted to the feebleness of
Rocinante to make way over such rough ground； he being； moreover；
slow…paced and sluggish by nature。 Don Quixote at once came to the
conclusion that this was the owner of the saddle…pad and of the
valise； and made up his mind to go in search of him； even though he
should have to wander a year in those mountains before he found him；
and so he directed Sancho to take a short cut over one side of the
mountain； while he himself went by the other； and perhaps by this
means they might light upon this man who had passed so quickly out
of their sight。
〃I could not do that；〃 said Sancho； 〃for when I separate from your
worship fear at once lays hold of me； and assails me with all sorts of
panics and fancies； and let what I now say be a notice that from
this time forth I am not going to stir a finger's width from your
presence。〃
〃It shall be so；〃 said he of the Rueful Countenance； 〃and I am
very glad that thou art willing to rely on my courage； which will
never fail thee； even though the soul in thy body fail thee； so come
on now behind me slowly as well as thou canst； and make lanterns of
thine eyes； let us make the circuit of this ridge； perhaps we shall
light upon this man that we saw； who no doubt is no other than the
owner of what we found。〃
To which Sancho made answer； 〃Far better would it be not to look for
him； for； if we find him； and he happens to be the owner of the money；
it is plain I must restore it； it would be better； therefore； that
without taking this needless trouble； I should keep possession of it
until in some other less meddlesome and officious way the real owner
may be discovered； and perhaps that will be when I shall have spent
it； and then the king will hold me harmless。〃
〃Thou art wrong there； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for now that we
have a suspicion who the owner is； and have him almost before us； we
are bound to seek him and make restitution； and if we do not see
him； the strong suspicion we have as to his being the owner makes us
as guilty as if he were so； and so； friend Sancho； let not our
search for him give thee any uneasiness； for if we find him it will
relieve mine。〃
And so saying he gave Rocinante the spur； and Sancho followed him on
foot and loaded； and after having partly made the circuit of the
mountain they found lying in a ravine； dead and half devoured by
dogs and pecked by jackdaws； a mule saddled and bridled； all which
still further strengthened their suspicion that he who had fled was
the owner of the mule and the saddle…pad。
As they stood looking at it they heard a whistle like that of a
shepherd watching his flock； and suddenly on their left there appeared
a great number of goats and behind them on the summit of the
mountain the goatherd in charge of them； a man advanced in years。
Don Quixote called aloud to him and begged him to come down to where
they stood。 He shouted in return； asking what had brought them to that
spot； seldom or never trodden except by the feet of goats； or of the
wolves and other wild beasts that roamed around。 Sancho in return bade
him come down； and they would explain all to him。
The goatherd descended； and reaching the place where Don Quixote
stood； he said； 〃I will wager you are looking at that hack mule that
lies dead in the hollow there； and； faith； it has been lying there now
these six months； tell me； have you come upon its master about here？〃
〃We have come upon nobody；〃 answered Don Quixote； 〃nor on anything
except a saddle…pad and a little valise that we found not far from
this。〃
〃I found it too；〃 said the goatherd； 〃but I would not lift it nor go
near it for fear of some ill…luck or being charged with theft； for the
devil is crafty； and things rise up under one's feet to make one
fall without knowing why or wherefore。〃
〃That's exactly what I say；〃 said Sancho； 〃I found it too； and I
would not go within a stone's throw of it； there I left it； and
there it lies just as it was； for I don't want a dog with a bell。〃
〃Tell me； good man；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃do you know who is the owner
of this property？〃
〃All I can tell you；〃 said the goatherd； 〃is that about six months
ago； more or less； there arrived at a shepherd's hut three leagues；
perhaps； away from this； a youth of well…bred appearance and
manners； mounted on that same mule which lies dead here； and with
the same saddle…pad and valise which you say you found and did not
touch。 He asked us what part of this sierra was the most rugged and
retired； we told him that it was where we now are； and so in truth
it is； for if you push on half a league farther； perhaps you will
not be able to find your way out； and I am wondering how you have
managed to come here； for there is no road or path that leads to
this spot。 I say； then； that on hearing our answer the youth turned
about and made for the place we pointed out to him； leaving us all
charmed with his good looks； and wondering at his question and the
haste with which we saw him depart in the direction of the sierra； and
after that we saw him no more； until some days afterwards he crossed
the path of one of our shepherds； and without saying a word to him；
came up to him and gave him several cuffs and kicks； and then turned
to the ass with our provisions and took all the bread and cheese it
carried； and having done this made off back again into the sierra with
extraordinary swiftness。 When some of us goatherds learned this we
went in search of him for about two days through the most remote
portion of this sierra； at the end of which we found him lodged in the
hollow of a large thick cork tree。 He came out to meet us with great
gentleness； with his dress now torn and his face so disfigured and
burned by the sun； that we hardly recognised him but that his clothes；
though torn； convinced us； from the