Mahomet and the Fountain 



After supper, going out to feed the ponies, the Moor was 

 not hungry. I thought he might be thirsty, and led him 

 along the stable towards the well-trough ; but when he got 

 opposite the heels of an entero^ he became so violent that I 

 could not get him further, and was glad to get him back safe 

 to his manger, after a severe fencing-match, in which both 

 sides snorted and screamed and lunged backwards, and 

 flourished their heels very truculently. 



As Mahomet could not be persuaded to go to the foun- 

 tain, I had to untie the bucket-rope and bring him his drink, 

 after which he ate his supper peaceably, whilst I lay among 

 the straw smoking and listening to his munchings and 

 champings. This sound is musical to the ear of a traveller 

 homeward bound, whose horse's legs depend upon his teeth. 



We were off about seven next morning, and stopped to 

 breakfast at Dueiias. About twelve o'clock, as we were 

 riding along by the side of the road, a caminero (road-mender 

 and guard) called out to us : — 



" Hallo, you there, are you contrabandistas ? — stop ! " We 

 stopped a moment, and said : 



" Is that the way you address gentlemen, and begin by 

 throwing imputations upon their character ? You deserve 

 no answer — adieu ; " and we rode on. He seized his musket, 

 and crying "Stop thieves !" gave chase, now and then pre- 

 sentino; his musket as if he meant to shoot. We took no 

 notice of this, and cantered gently on, a little quicker than 

 he could run, for about a mile. 



As our ponies were not very fresh, and mine rather lame, 

 we thought it would take too much out of them to distance 

 him altogether ; so we pulled up and waited for him. He 

 arrived panting and puffing, in great perspiration and choler. 



" Now, sir," said I, before he had breath enough to speak, 

 " we have given you a slight lesson of civility, which it is 



