ad and proceeded by a shorter way, through wild hills
and over very broken and precipitous ground. Being well-mounted we found
ourselves just after sunset opposite Ocana, which stands on a steep hill.
A deep valley lay between us and the town; we descended and came to a
small bridge which traverses a rivulet at the bottom of the valley, at a
very small distance from a kind of suburb; we crossed the bridge, and
were passing by a deserted house on our left hand when a man appeared
from under the porch.

What I am about to state will seem incomprehensible to you, but a
singular history and a singular people are connected with it. The man
placed himself before my horse so as to bar the way, and said _Schophon_,
which in the Hebrew tongue signifies a rabbit. I knew this word to be
one of the Jewish countersigns, and asked the man if he had anything to
communicate. He said: 'You must not enter the town, for a net is
prepared for you. The _Corregidor_ of Toledo, on whom may all evil
light, in order to give pleasure to the priests of Maria, in whose face I
spit, has ordered all the _Alcaldes_ of these parts and the _Escribanos_
and the _Corchetes_ to lay hands on you wherever they may find you, and
to send you and your books and all that pertains to you to Toledo. Your
servant was seized this morning in the town above as he was selling the
writings in the streets, and they are now awaiting your arrival in the
_posada_; but I knew you from the accounts of my brethren, and have been
waiting here four hours to give you warning, in order that your horse may
turn his tail to your enemies and neigh in derision of them. Fear
nothing for your servant, for he is known to the _Alcalde_ and will be
set at liberty, but do you flee, and may God attend you.' Having said
this, he hurried towards the town.

I hesitated not a moment to take his advice, knowing full well that, as
my books had been taken possession of, I could do no more in that
direction. We turned back, in the direction of Aranjuez, the horses
notwithstanding the nature of the ground galloping at full speed, and
like the true Moorish breed bearing their tails erect and stiff; but our
adventures were not over. About mid-way, and about half a league from
the small village of Antigola, we saw close to us on our left hand three
men on a low bank. As far as the darkness would permit us to distinguish
they were naked, but each bore in his hand a long gun; these were
_rate