False Alarm 



be packed. The Moor was lying like a dead horse, with 

 his head down and his legs stretched out ; but he had no 

 saddle on. This looked bad, and I went to see if the mo%o 

 de la cuadra was anywhere to be found. In the space near 

 the entrance and fireplace, the floor was covered with mule- 

 teers lying on the ground, with a manta beneath and a capa 

 to cover them. 



I could find no mozo moving about, nor did I remember 

 his face, so as to wake up the right man among the sleepers. 

 At last, the man who had been watering his mules came to 

 lie down. I asked him what the mo-z.os name was, and on 

 his authority went about crying — " Alfonz666666 ! " At 

 length, out of a sort of dust-hole closet near the corn-bin, 

 came a man, rubbing his eyes. I told him my grievance, 

 and we went together and inspected all the premises with 

 no success. At last he suggested that it might be in my 

 room. I said I thought not, for I had left it on, and gone 

 to sleep without taking it to a place of safety. However, 

 when we came upstairs with a lamp, there it was in the 

 anteroom of our chamber, where Harry, seeing me fast 

 asleep, had deposited it. I was rather ashamed at the trouble 

 I had caused, and gave the mo'z.o 3. cigar, by way of a sop. 

 He went away quite satisfied, nor the least vexed at his rest 

 being broken on an emergency which ended in smoke. As 

 I was now thoroughly awake, and had no desire to go to 

 sleep again, I lit the lamp, and got my inkstand and blotting- 

 book out of the alforj'as. My lamp has just burned out for 

 want of oil, and I finish this by daylight, which has luckily 

 supervened. I had slept from about eight to three in the 

 morning, which is seven hours. It is now time to wake 

 Harry up, and go and feed the ponies. 



There, I have given them a medio apiece, and they are 

 munching away heartily. Harry is dressing, and grumbles 



245 



