The Wolf-Dogs 



body of the chapel, where all the labourers collected. The 

 gallery above the doors we entered from the house. After 

 mass, the marques and cura sat by the fire while I danced a 

 mixture of a Highland fling and hornpipe up and down the 

 long gallery, to warm myself, after my ablutions and 

 devotions. 



After a little while the marques retired with a pan of hot 

 water to make his toilette, and I went out to take a walk. 

 The men were all loitering about the court smoking and 

 talking, and saluted me with a " Faya Vmd. con Dios " (may 

 your worship go with God), as I passed the portal arch. I 

 turned to the right, and set off to make the circuit of the 

 fortifications. A wall about fifteen feet high and about half 

 a mile in length inclosed the whole house, with its courts 

 and gardens, in an irregular figure, something like a 

 pentagon. I had not got above halfway round, when I 

 was assailed by a great dog, about two feet and a half high, 

 long and broad in proportion, and a very formidable and 

 fierce opponent to my further passage in that direction. 



I was ashamed to turn back, though there was nobody 

 looking on, the great stimulus of faltering fortitude, without 

 which, as Sancho well says, " Pues no haya quien nos vea, 

 menos habra quien nos note de cobardes." i I therefore 

 wrapped my left arm in my cloak, and picked up a large 

 round stone, with which to fortify my knuckles in case of 

 an actual encounter, and proceeded slowly, facing my 

 antagonist, who kept growling lustily, and snarling at me 

 with ravenous teeth. 



Paving gone some way in the company of the enemy, 

 who kept making unpleasant little rushes at me, — coming 

 within a few feet, and then springing on one side, as if not 



' "Since none see us, fewer will remark our cowardice." — Don 

 Quixote. 



83 F 



