going on； said to him； 〃Ah； Sancho my friend； how quickly and
cheaply might you finish off the disenchantment of Dulcinea； if you
would strip to the waist and take your place among those gentlemen！
Amid the pain and sufferings of so many you would not feel your own
much； and moreover perhaps the sage Merlin would allow each of these
lashes； being laid on with a good hand； to count for ten of those
which you must give yourself at last。〃
The general was about to ask what these lashes were； and what was
Dulcinea's disenchantment； when a sailor exclaimed； 〃Monjui signals
that there is an oared vessel off the coast to the west。〃
On hearing this the general sprang upon the gangway crying； 〃Now
then； my sons； don't let her give us the slip！ It must be some
Algerine corsair brigantine that the watchtower signals to us。〃 The
three others immediately came alongside the chief galley to receive
their orders。 The general ordered two to put out to sea while he
with the other kept in shore； so that in this way the vessel could not
escape them。 The crews plied the oars driving the galleys so furiously
that they seemed to fly。 The two that had put out to sea； after a
couple of miles sighted a vessel which； so far as they could make out；
they judged to be one of fourteen or fifteen banks； and so she proved。
As soon as the vessel discovered the galleys she went about with the
object and in the hope of making her escape by her speed； but the
attempt failed； for the chief galley was one of the fastest vessels
afloat； and overhauled her so rapidly that they on board the
brigantine saw clearly there was no possibility of escaping； and the
rais therefore would have had them drop their oars and give themselves
up so as not to provoke the captain in command of our galleys to
anger。 But chance； directing things otherwise； so ordered it that just
as the chief galley came close enough for those on board the vessel to
hear the shouts from her calling on them to surrender； two Toraquis；
that is to say two Turks； both drunken； that with a dozen more were on
board the brigantine； discharged their muskets； killing two of the
soldiers that lined the sides of our vessel。 Seeing this the general
swore he would not leave one of those he found on board the vessel
alive； but as he bore down furiously upon her she slipped away from
him underneath the oars。 The galley shot a good way ahead； those on
board the vessel saw their case was desperate； and while the galley
was coming about they made sail； and by sailing and rowing once more
tried to sheer off； but their activity did not do them as much good as
their rashness did them harm； for the galley coming up with them in
a little more than half a mile threw her oars over them and took the
whole of them alive。 The other two galleys now joined company and
all four returned with the prize to the beach； where a vast
multitude stood waiting for them； eager to see what they brought back。
The general anchored close in； and perceived that the viceroy of the
city was on the shore。 He ordered the skiff to push off to fetch
him； and the yard to be lowered for the purpose of hanging forthwith
the rais and the rest of the men taken on board the vessel； about
six…and…thirty in number； all smart fellows and most of them Turkish
musketeers。 He asked which was the rais of the brigantine； and was
answered in Spanish by one of the prisoners （who afterwards proved
to he a Spanish renegade）； 〃This young man； senor that you see here is
our rais；〃 and he pointed to one of the handsomest and most
gallant…looking youths that could be imagined。 He did not seem to be
twenty years of age。
〃Tell me； dog；〃 said the general； 〃what led thee to kill my
soldiers； when thou sawest it was impossible for thee to escape？ Is
that the way to behave to chief galleys？ Knowest thou not that
rashness is not valour？ Faint prospects of success should make men
bold； but not rash。〃
The rais was about to reply； but the general could not at that
moment listen to him； as he had to hasten to receive the viceroy；
who was now coming on board the galley； and with him certain of his
attendants and some of the people。
〃You have had a good chase； senor general；〃 said the viceroy。
〃Your excellency shall soon see how good； by the game strung up to
this yard；〃 replied the general。
〃How so？〃 returned the viceroy。
〃Because；〃 said the general； 〃against all law； reason； and usages of
war they have killed on my hands two of the best soldiers on board
these galleys； and I have sworn to hang every man that I have taken；
but above all this youth who is the rais of the brigantine；〃 and he
pointed to him as he stood with his hands already bound and the rope
round his neck； ready for death。
The viceroy looked at him； and seeing him so well…favoured； so
graceful； and so submissive； he felt a desire to spare his life； the
comeliness of the youth furnishing him at once with a letter of
recommendation。 He therefore questioned him； saying； 〃Tell me； rais；
art thou Turk； Moor； or renegade？〃
To which the youth replied； also in Spanish； 〃I am neither Turk； nor
Moor； nor renegade。〃
〃What art thou； then？〃 said the viceroy。
〃A Christian woman；〃 replied the youth。
〃A woman and a Christian； in such a dress and in such circumstances！
It is more marvellous than credible；〃 said the viceroy。
〃Suspend the execution of the sentence；〃 said the youth； 〃your
vengeance will not lose much by waiting while I tell you the story
of my life。〃
What heart could be so hard as not to he softened by these words； at
any rate so far as to listen to what the unhappy youth had to say？ The
general bade him say what he pleased； but not to expect pardon for his
flagrant offence。 With this permission the youth began in these words。
〃Born of Morisco parents； I am of that nation； more unhappy than
wise； upon which of late a sea of woes has poured down。 In the
course of our misfortune I was carried to Barbary by two uncles of
mine； for it was in vain that I declared I was a Christian； as in fact
I am； and not a mere pretended one； or outwardly； but a true
Catholic Christian。 It availed me nothing with those charged with
our sad expatriation to protest this； nor would my uncles believe
it； on the contrary； they treated it as an untruth and a subterfuge
set up to enable me to remain behind in the land of my birth； and
so； more by force than of my own will； they took me with them。 I had a
Christian mother； and a father who was a man of sound sense and a
Christian too； I imbibed the Catholic faith with my mother's milk； I
was well brought up； and neither in word nor in deed did I； I think；
show any sign of being a Morisco。 To accompany these virtues； for such
I hold them； my beauty； if I possess any； grew with my growth； and
great as was the seclusion in which I lived it was not so great but
that a young gentleman； Don Gaspar Gregorio by name； eldest son of a
gentleman who is lord of a village near ours； contrived to find
opportunities of seeing me。 How he saw me； how we met； how his heart
was lost to me； and mine not kept from him； would take too long to
tell； especially at a moment when I am in dread of the cruel cord that
threatens me interposing between tongue and throat； I will only say；
therefore； that Don Gregorio chose to accompany me in our
banishment。 He joined company with the Moriscoes who were going
forth from other villages； for he knew their language very well； and
on the voyage he struck up a friendship with my two uncles who were
carrying me with them； for my father； like a wise and far…sighted man；
as soon as he heard the first edict for our expulsion； quitted the
village and departed in quest of some refuge for us abroad。 He left
hidden and buried； at a spot of which I alone have knowledge； a
large quantity of pearls and precious stones of great value；
together with a sum of money in gold cruzadoes and doubloons。 He
charged me on no account to touch the treasure； if by any chance
they expelled us before his return。 I obeyed him； and with my
uncles； as I have said； and others of our kindred and neighbours；
passed over to Barbary； and the place where we took up our abode was
Algiers； much the same as if we had taken it up in hell itself。 The
king heard of my beauty； and report told him of my wealth； which was
in some degree fortunate for me。 He summoned me before him； and
asked me what part of Spain I came from； and what money and jewels I
had。 I mentioned the place； and told him the jewels and money were
buried there； but that they might easily be recovered if I myself went
back for them。 All this I told him； in dread lest my beauty and not
his own covetousness should influence him。 While he was engaged in
conversation with me； they brought him word that in company with me
was one of the handsomest and most graceful youths that could be
imagined。 I knew at once that they were speaking of Don Gaspar
Gregorio； whose comeliness surpasses the most highly vaunted beauty。 I
was troubled when I thought of the danger he was in； for among those
barbarous Turks a fair youth is more esteemed than a woman； be she
ever so beautiful。 The king immediately ordered him to be brought
before him that he might see him； and asked me if what they said about
the youth was true。 I then； almost as if inspired by heaven； told
him it was； but that I would have him to know it was not a man； but
a woman like myself； and I entreated him to allow me to go and dress
her in the attire proper to her； so that her beauty might be seen to
perfection； and that she might present herself before him with less
embarrassment。 He bade me go by all means； and said that the next
day we should discuss the plan to be adopted for my return to Spain to
carry away the hidden treasure。 I saw Don Gaspar； I told him the
danger he was in if he let it be seen he was a man； I dressed him as a
Moorish woman； and that same afternoon I brought him before the
king； who was charmed when he saw him； and resolved to keep the damsel
and make a present of her to the Grand Signor； and to avoid the risk
she might run among the women of his seraglio； and distrustful of
himself； he commanded her to be placed in the ho