We are Worth Many a Button 



As we were departing, the bandit captain inquired if the 

 buttons (with which we were profusely ornamented) were 

 silver, and this settled our conviction that we should be 

 waylaid this day, if any. Everything seemed unlucky. I 

 felt sick and ill ; and, as I was leading my pony, which 

 kicked and reared, and was very unruly, out of the market- 

 place, my alforjas rolled off his back. A man, who came 

 forward civilly to hold it on again, remarked to the crowd 

 how heavy it was ; and as they always conclude that Eng- 

 lishmen are laden only with precious metals, this would, 

 of course, afford an additional incentive to the marauders 

 of the district. We, however, had all our pistols ostenta- 

 tiously displayed in our fajaSy and tried to look as fierce 

 as we could, in hopes they might think us dangerous. 



We descended the hill and mounted. So full were we 

 of the idea of robbers, that we seriously suspected a poor 

 man, with a donkey laden with pipkins, whom we overtook 

 on the road, of being in some way or other implicated in 

 the conspiracy against our lives and property. The road 

 across the valley was not very clear at best, and in crossing 

 a puddly stream we missed it. 



After wandering about some time we came in sight of a 

 miserable hut ; hard by there was a miserable little garden, 

 and in the garden a miserable little man, hoeing languidly. 

 To him we shouted, but got no reply ; as I felt sure he 

 must have heard us, I rode up in great wrath, and began to 

 upbraid him for not attending when he was spoken to. 



Thereupon he left his cabbages and came up, looking very 

 timid, half-witted, and sickly. We inquired our way to 

 Moron, and he offered to put us in it. I, seeing he was 

 about to make a job of showing us the way, began to speak 

 sharply to him ; but Harry said he was evidently a poor 

 wretch on whom some coppers would not be thrown away. 



