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Fetching my horse, the owner of the stable robbed me with peculiar callousness, for he had bound my hands the day before, when I went to see how Aguador was treated, by giving me with most courteous ceremony a glass of aguardiente; and his urbanity was then so captivating that now I lacked assurance to protest.
The day was drawing to a close and I pushed on to reach Ecija before night, but Aguador was tired and I was obliged mostly to walk. Now the highway turned and twisted among little hills and it was a strange relief to leave the dead level of the plains: on each side the land was barren and desolate, and in the distance were dark mountains.
I bargained for the price of food and saw Aguador comfortably stalled; then made my way to the Nekropolis where lived my host.
You will see the back of the merchant scarcely covered with a short cloth jacket, and the back of the "aguador" cased in well-worn leather; the back of the "guapo" muffled in a cloak of fine broad-cloth, and that of the "lepero" shrouded in a ragged scrape; and then you will see broad backs and slender ones, straight backs and crooked ones; and you run a good chance of beholding a hunch or two especially if the church be in a large town.
DOÑA MATILDE. ¿Acabaste? BRUNO. No señora, porque es muy malo, muy malo leer en la cama.... DOÑA MATILDE. ¡Aprieta! ¿Y no ha venido nadie? BRUNO. Nadie ... ah, sí, vino el aguador con su esportilla y su.... DOÑA MATILDE. ¿Qué tengo yo que ver con el aguador ni con su esportilla? BRUNO. ¿Esperaba usted acaso otra visita a las siete de la mañana?
Towards mid-day I rested by the wayside and let Aguador eat what grass he could. Presently, continuing my journey, I caught sight of a little hovel where the fir-branch over the door told me wine was to be obtained.
The path became marsh-like, and Aguador splashed along at a walk; it was impossible to go faster. The rain pelted down, blinding me.
I was bound to cross, and I had to risk it; my only consolation was that even if Aguador could not stand, I was already so wet that I could hardly get wetter. The good horse required some persuasion before he would enter; the water rushed and bubbled and rapidly became deeper; he stopped and tried to turn back, but I urged him on.
With true Spanish stolidity they did not rise as I approached, but waited for me to speak, looking at me indifferently. I asked whether I could have anything to eat. 'Fried eggs. 'Anything else? The hostess, a tall creature, haggard and grim, shrugged her shoulders. Her jaws were toothless, and when she spoke it was difficult to understand. I tied Aguador to a manger and took off his saddle.
The air was cool and fresh, like the air of English country in June when it has rained through the night; and Aguador, snorting with pleasure, cantered over the uneven ground, nimbly avoiding holes and deep ruts with the sure-footedness of his Arab blood.
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