Chaff Against the Grain 



could think of) only divert «j, they might annoy other tra- 

 vellers. Therefore we shall, in a friendly manner, represent 

 to the alcalde that, from the peculiar turn of your mind, you 

 are not so much adapted for this as you might be in some 

 other equally honourable employment. In the meantime 

 pray don't distress yourself by disturbing the serenity of 

 your temper (he w^as almost black in the face w^ith rage). 

 Would your worship smoke ? (offering a paper o{ cigari/los). 

 No? (lighting one myself). No haga Vmd. desaires^ pr:a.y 

 don't stand on ceremony." He said " No, thank you," very 

 sulkily ; but, about this stage of the discourse, he appeared 

 to begin to surmise that he had, metaphorically speaking, 

 put his foot in it. He was a great hulking fellow, more than 

 six feet high, with a stupid, fierce countenance, and a squint. 

 The expression of his face reminded us of a baited bull. 



However, now we had begun it, we thought it a pity not 

 to see our funcion to an end : so for the next mile, till we 

 reached Magas, I kept sticking bandartUas of chaff into the 

 tough hide of his bovine intellect. Harry suggested that 

 we might lose a good deal of time, and had perhaps better 

 buy him off ; but I was decidedly for going before the 

 authorities, " for," said I, " there will ten to one be some- 

 thing to make a story of, and we have had lamentably few 

 adventures lately. It would even be worth while almost to 

 pass a night in prison." 



Reaching the village, we inquired for the house of the 

 alcalde. He was not at home, but his wife and daughter 

 appeared at the door. In the meantime, what with the 

 sultry weather, and much conversation with the caminero^ I 

 was very thirsty, and persuaded the alcalde's pretty daughter 

 to bring me a glass of water. A crowd of forty or fifty, 

 chiefly women and children, had gathered by the time the 

 alcalde arrived ; and I made the best of my time, to have 



