In answer to my look of wonder, he simply raised
his right hand and gave a military salute. I asked:
"Que esta, Senor?" "What is it, sir?"
"His reply was: 'By order of the king, I am here to offer you protection
and assistance.'
"Thanking him for his courtesy, I turned over in bed and went to sleep
again.
"After breakfast of wild boar bacon, which was the sweetest meat I ever
tasted, the guard and my host accompanied me to the river. I carried a
good supply of gold and silver with me; but all offers of money
throughout the entire eight hundred miles of this voyage, were
peremptorily refused. It was impossible to spend a cent. In fact, the
money wore through the little bag I carried it in and I found it loose
in my dress. The only place I used a cent on the trip was at Talavera.
A boy who had done an errand for me, accepted a peseta. When it was
found out, he was sent back with it and apologized for his conduct.
"The river now began to get very narrow and to bury itself in canyons,
so that during the day the sun scarcely ever shone on the water except
at noon when it was directly overhead. Since losing my little tender, I
had no way to carry provisions except in a small oil cloth strapped on
my breast. The host of the cabin had insisted on my taking some of the
wild boar bacon with me; but seeing their stores were low, I took but
very little, which I easily devoured at noon.
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