Earnest, twelve of the Enemy's Horse pursuing us to the very
Gates of the Town. Nor could I ever after prevail upon my
Fellow-Traveller to believe that he ow'd his Escape to Merriment more
than Speed.

Soon after my Charge, as to the Fortifications, was pretty well over, I
obtain'd Leave of the Governor to be absent for a Fortnight, upon some
Affairs of my own at _Valencia_. On my Return from whence, at a Town
call'd _Venissa_, I met two Officers of an _English_ Regiment, going to
the Place from whence I last came. They told me, after common
Congratulations, that they had left Major _Boyd_, at a little Place
call'd _Capel_, hiring another Mule, that he rode on thither having
tir'd and fail'd him; desiring withal, that if I met him, I would let
him know that they would stay for him at that Place. I had another
Gentleman in my Company, and we had travell'd on not above a League
further, whence, at a little Distance, we were both surpriz'd with a
Sight that seem'd to have set all Art at defiance, and was too odd for
any thing in Nature. It appear'd all in red, and to move; but so very
slowly, that if we had not made more way to that than it did to us, we
should have made it a Day's Journey before we met it. My Companion could
as little tell what to make of it as I; and, indeed, the nearer it came
the more monstrous it seem'd, having nothing of the Tokens of Man,
either Walking, Riding, or in any Posture whatever. At last, coming up
with this strange Figure of a Creature (for now we found it was
certainly such) what, or rather who, should it prove to be, but Major
_Boyd_? He was a Person of himself far from one of the least Proportion,
and mounted on a poor little Ass, with all his warlike Accoutrements
upon it, you will allow must make a Figure almost as odd as one of the
old _Centaurs_. The Morocco Saddle that cover'd the Ass was of Burden
enough for the Beast without its Master; and the additional Holsters
and Pistols made it much more weighty. Nevertheless, a Curb Bridle of
the largest Size cover'd his little Head, and a long red Cloak, hanging
down to the Ground, cover'd Jackboots, Ass, Master and all. In short, my
Companion and I, after we could specifically declare it to be a Man,
agreed we never saw a Figure so comical in all our Lives. When we had
merrily greeted our Major (for a _Cynick_ could not have forborn
Laughter) He excus'd all as well as he could, by saying he could get no
other Beast. After which, deliver