sada_, and having paid for the barley
which his pony had consumed, went into the stable, and placing the
pack-saddle on the animal's back was about to lead it forth when the
_Alcalde_ of the village, the surgeon, and twelve other men, some of whom
were armed with muskets, suddenly presented themselves. They instantly
made Vitoriano prisoner, and, after seizing the books and laying an
embargo on the pony, proceeded amidst much abuse to drag their captive to
what they denominated their prison, a low damp apartment with a little
grated window, where they locked him up and left him. At the expiration
of three quarters of an hour they again appeared, and conducted him to
the house of the curate, where they sat down in conclave, the curate who
was a man stone-blind being president, whilst the sacristan officiated as
secretary. The surgeon having stated his accusation against the
prisoner, namely, that he had detected him in the fact of selling a
version of the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue, the curate proceeded to
examine Vitoriano, asking him his name and place of residence--to which
he replied that his name was Vitoriano Lopez, and that he was a native of
Villa Seca in the Sagra of Toledo. The curate then demanded what
religion he professed, and whether he was a Mahometan or freemason, and
received for answer that he was a Roman Catholic. I must here state that
Vitoriano, though sufficiently shrewd in his way, is a poor old labourer
of sixty-four, and until that moment had never heard of Mahometans or
freemasons. The curate becoming now incensed, called him a _tunante_ or
scoundrel, and added, 'You have sold your soul to a heretic; we have long
been aware of your proceedings, and those of your master. You are the
same Lopez, whom he last year rescued from the prison of Villallos, in
the province of Avila. I sincerely hope that he will attempt to do the
same thing here.' 'Yes, yes,' shouted the rest of the conclave, 'let him
but venture here, and we will shed his heart's blood on our stones.' In
this manner they went on for nearly half-an-hour; at last they broke up
the meeting and conducted Vitoriano once more to his prison.

During his confinement he lived tolerably well, being in possession of
money; his meals were sent him twice a day from the _posada_, where his
pony remained in embargo. Once or twice he asked permission of the
_Alcalde_, who visited him every night and morning with his armed guard,
to purch