t
night into some fortified places on the coast, and place scouts and
sentinels to watch whilst they sleep; but in spite of all precautions,
it has sometimes happened that scouts, sentinels, rogues, overseers,
boats, nets, and all the posse comitatus of the place have begun the
night in Spain and have seen the dawn in Tetuan. No apprehensions of
this kind, however, could deter Carriazo from spending three successive
summers at the fisheries for his pastime; and such was his luck during
his third season, that he won at cards about seven hundred reals, with
which he resolved to buy himself good clothes, return to Burgos, and
gladden the heart of his sorrowing mother.

He took a most affectionate leave of his many dear friends, assuring
them that nothing but sickness or death should prevent his being with
them in the following summer; for his heart was in Zahara, and to his
eyes its parched sands were fresher than all the verdure of the Elysian
fields. Ambling merrily along on shanks' mare, he arrived at Valladolid,
where he stopped a fortnight to get rid of the mahogany hue of his
complexion, and to change his rogue's costume for that of a gentleman.
Having equipped himself properly, he had still a hundred reals left,
which he spent on the hire of a mule and a servant, that he might make a
good figure when he presented himself to his parents. They received him
with the utmost joy, and all the friends and relations of the family
came to congratulate them on the safe arrival of their son Don Diego de
Carriazo. I had forgotten to mention that, during his peregrination, Don
Diego had taken the name of Vidiales, and by that name alone he was
known to his new acquaintances.

Among those who came to see the new arrival were Don Juan de Avendano
and his son Don Tomas, with the latter of whom, as they were both of the
same age and neighbours, Carriazo contracted a very close friendship.
Carriazo gave his parents a long and circumstantial account of all the
fine things he had seen and done during the three years he had been from
home, in all which there was not one word of truth; but he never so much
as hinted at the tunny fisheries, though they were constantly in his
thoughts, more especially as the time approached in which he had
promised his friends he would return to them. He took no pleasure in the
chase, with which his father sought often to divert him, nor in any of
the convivial meetings of that hospitable city. All kinds