ist had conceived without detriment to her virginal purity, yet
he could not believe that after the conception of her divine Son she
was still a virgin. He was so obstinate in holding this opinion, that
no amount of reasoning on the part of Ignatius could force him to
abandon it. Shortly afterward the Saracen rode on, leaving the pilgrim
to his own reflections. These were not of the most peaceful nature. He
was sorely troubled as he thought over the conduct of his recent
fellow-traveler, and felt that he had but poorly acquitted himself of
his duty of honoring the Mother of God. The longer his mind thought
upon the matter, the more his soul was filled with indignation against
himself for having allowed the Saracen to speak as he had done of the
Blessed Virgin, and for the lack of courage he fancied he had shown in
not at once resenting the insult. He consequently felt impelled by a
strong impulse to hasten after him and slay the miscreant for the
insulting language he had used. After much internal conflict with
these thoughts, he still remained in doubt, nor could he decide what
course to follow. The Saracen, who had ridden on, had mentioned to him
that it was his intention to proceed to a town not far distant from
the highroad. At length, Ignatius, wearied by his inward struggle and
not arriving at any determination, decided to settle all his doubts in
the following novel way: he would give free rein to his horse, and if,
on coming to the cross-road, his horse should turn into the path that
led to the destination of the Moor, he would pursue him and kill him;
but if his horse kept to the highroad he would allow the wretch to
escape. Having done as he had decided, it happened through the
Providence of God that his horse kept to the highroad, though the
place was distant only about thirty or forty yards, and the way
leading to it was very wide and easy.

Arriving at a large village situated a short distance from Montserrat,
he determined to procure a garment to wear on his journey to
Jerusalem. He therefore bought a piece of sackcloth, poorly woven, and
filled with prickly wooden fibres. Of this he made a garment that
reached to his feet. He bought, also, a pair of shoes of coarse stuff
that is often used in making brooms. He never wore but one shoe, and
that not for the sake of the comfort to be derived from it, but
because, as he was in the habit of wearing a cord tied below the knee
by way of mortification, this leg w