190 a The Story of

the ground, I made use of what strength was yet remaining in my
horse, who was also very much wounded, separated myself from
the crowd, and rode away as fast as he could carry me; but he
happened all of a sudden to give. way under me, through weari-
ness and loss of blood, and fell down dead. I got rid of him in
a trice, and finding that I was not pursued, it made me judge that ~
the robbers were not willing to quit the booty they had got.

Here you see me alone, wounded, destitute of help, and in
a strange country: I durst not betake myself to the high road,
lest I might fall again into the hands of these robbers. When |
I had bound up my wound, which was not dangerous, I walked
on for the rest of the day, and arrived at the foot of a mountain,
where I perceived a passage into a cave: I.went in, and stayed
there that night with little satisfaction, after I had eaten some
fruits that I gathered by the way.

I continued my journey for several days without finding any
place .of abode; but, after a month’s time, I came to a large
town, well inhabited, and situated so advantageously, as it was
surrounded with several rivers, that it enjoyed perpetual spring.

The pleasant objects which then presented themselves. to my
eyes afforded me joy, and suspended. fora time the sorrow with
which I. was overwhelmed to find myself in such .a condition.
My face, hands and feet were black and sunburnt ; and, owing to
my long journey, my~-shoes and stockings were quite worn: out, so:
that I was forced to walk bare-footed, and, , besides, my clothes
were all in rags. I entered into the town to learn where I was,
and addressed myself to a tailor that was at work in his shop;
who, perceiving by my air that I was-a person of more ‘note
than my outward appearance bespoke me to be, made me sit’
down -by him, and asked me who I was, from whence I came,
and what had brought me: cuihers I did not conceal anything
that had befallen me. Sect ae ee

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