My Cloak 



Know, people of all climes and races, 



Who pass the " gate of sands," 

 That in the stream, which laves the bases 

 Of these tall rocks, we washed our faces, 

 And likewise washed our hands. 



Signed, I g; 



I. C. 

 I. c. 



P.S. — We therefore take our solemn dick. 

 These are the rocks of Hie and Gic. 



This inscription was not carved on the face of the free- 

 stone in letters a foot high and three inches deep ; because, 

 though cherishing that reverential desire to perpetuate the 

 initial letters of our names in lasting materials which is one 

 of the noblest features of a travelling Briton's character, we 

 could not afford to sacrifice a day even to so memorable an 

 occasion. 



An hour or two after, a diligence appeared behind us, and 

 we drew up to let it pass. They suddenly quickened their 

 pace, and galloped past us at full speed. Perhaps they took 

 us for thieves ; at any rate it suggested the idea to us — 

 What, if we should rob them ? They would certainly give 

 up their money ; but the question was how we should escape 

 afterwards. Ourselves we could disguise, by changing our 

 Andalusian dress for shooting-jackets and trousers ; but our 

 ponies — could we arrange our cloaks and fnantas so as to 

 alter their appearance ? Here I looked round for my cloak, 

 which I had rolled up in my little manta and tied with tape 

 to the tin loops behind the saddle. But the loops, which 

 were rather rough, had cut the tape, and the cloak was gone. 

 This time it did not seem v/orth while to go back for it, as 

 we had already made a long day's work, and a league and 

 a half yet remained to Jaen. Besides, the cloak was not 

 worth much, and very heavy ; and I still had my Scotch 

 plaid to keep the rain off", which would be enough, unless 



243 Q 



