180 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



object of administering to the thirst of the wayfarer, 

 and of inviting him to solicit, by prayer, a blessing 

 on his journey. On the upper part of a mossy and 

 time-worn slab of grey stone, placed perpendicularly 

 against the rocky bank which bordered the road, was 

 rudely sculptured in relievo a representation of the 

 Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her arms. 

 From a broken wooden spout, which protruded from 

 the same stone at about the height of a man from the 

 ground, gushed forth a stream of water of crystal 

 clearness, which fell bubbling and sparkling into a 

 granite trough below, while the vicinity of the foun- 

 tain had encouraged the growth of a profusion of 

 hedge flowers, which decked the banks and sides of 

 the road, and perfumed the air with their wild and 

 delicious fragrance. 



At this cool and pleasant spot a sort of oasis on 

 the liot' sandy road along which he had been riding 

 Marquinez drew rein, and loosening his horse's 

 breastplate, allowed the animal to plunge his mouth 

 and nostrils in the trough. Whilst his charger was 

 drinking an operation rendered somewhat difficult 

 by his large and severe bit the orderly continued 

 to move forward, until he had greatly diminished the 

 distance usually kept between an officer and his atten- 

 dant. When he arrived within a couple of paces of 

 the fountain, he silently drew a pistol from his hol- 

 ster, took a deliberate aim at the head of Marquinez, 

 and pulled the trigger. The bullet split the skull of 



