there was a
group of four stretched on the ground, and playing at primera, the earth
serving them for a table, and their cloaks for a table cloth. Lope went
up to watch their game, and saw that they played more like archdeacons
than like water-carriers, each of them having before him a pile of more
than a hundred reals in cuartos and in silver. Presently two of the
players, having lost all they had, got up; whereupon the seller of the
ass said, that, if there was a fourth hand, he would play, but he did
not like a three-handed game.

Lope, who never liked to spoil sport, said that he would make a fourth.
They sat down at once, and went at it so roundly that, in a few moments,
Lope lost six crowns which he had about him, and finding himself without
coin, said if they liked to play for the ass he would stake him. The
proposal was agreed to, and he staked one quarter of the ass, saying
they should play for him, quarter by quarter. His luck was so bad, that
in four consecutive games he lost the four quarters of his ass, and they
were won by the very man who had sold him. The winner got up to take
possession, but Lope stopped him, observing that he had only played for
and lost the four quarters of his ass, which the winner was welcome to
take, but he must leave him the tail. This queer demand made all present
shout with laughter; and some of them, who were knowing in the law, were
of opinion that his claim was unreasonable, for when a sheep or any
other beast is sold, the tail is never separated from the carcass, but
goes as a matter of course with one of the hind quarters. To this Lope
replied that in Barbary they always reckon five quarters to a sheep, the
tail making the fifth, and being reckoned as valuable as any of the
other quarters. He admitted that when a beast was sold alive, and not
quartered, that the tail was included in the sale; but this was not to
the point in question, for he had not sold his ass, but played it away,
and it had never been his intention to stake the tail; therefore he
required them forthwith to give him up the same, with everything thereto
annexed, or pertaining, that is to say, the whole series of spinal
bones, from the back of the skull to where they ended in the tail, and
to the tips of the lowest hairs thereof.

"Well," said one, "suppose it be as you say, and that your claim is
allowed; leave the tail sticking to the rest of the ass, and hold on by
it."

"No," said Lope, "give me up t