Military Opposition 



Engaged in such discourse, it suddenly occurred to us 

 that the road had disappeared in the midst of a rough field, 

 and we had a considerable amount of trouble and anxiety 

 among the trackless broken ground of the plain before we 

 could discover the Venta Quesada. 



In the distance, curiously enough, it did look like a castle, 

 as Don Quixote took it to be. There were two embattled 

 turrets, which had been built in the war time, when it had 

 been made a military station. We entered the courtyard 

 of this building, supposing it to be the venta^ but the soldiers 

 pointed us through a doorway further on. As we were going 

 through, a soldier started up and cried — 



" Hollo ! come back ! where are your passports ? " 



" Who are you," said I, " that have so little idea how 

 you should address gentlemen of distinction ? After we have 

 attended to our beasts we will attend to vou." 



" Gentlemen of distinction, indeed ! you look more like 

 Andalusian contrabandistas. Come here, sirs ! " 



"Come to us, if you have anything to say, you varlet of 

 an inconsequent mi/itar!" Here we went into the wretched 

 little shed of a stable, and two soldiers followed us. After 

 we had set barley before our ponies, we said, " Now, if you 

 will ask civilly to see our papers, we will show you them, 

 though it is exceedingly probable you cannot read." On 

 seeing their great size, and the complication of signatures 

 and stamps attached to our passports, they became civiller, 

 and began to exculpate themselves ; a polite corporal came 

 up and tried to smooth down the contention. But our 

 opponents, finding our papers were all right, now hit on a 

 new point of attack in our pistols. We showed our license 

 to carry arms. "Yes," said they, "an escopet (musket), 

 but these pistols are forbidden weapons, and require a special 

 license." 



275 s 



