In the evening the blacksmith, or, as he would be called in Spanish, _El Herrador_, made his appearance at the door of Lopez on horseback. “_Vamos_, _Don Jorge_,” he shouted. “Come with me, if your worship is disposed for a ride. I am going to bathe my horse in the Tagus, by the bridge of Azeca.” I instantly saddled my _jaca Cordovesa_, and joining him, we rode out of the village, directing our course across the plain towards the river. “Did you ever see such a horse as this of mine, _Don Jorge_?” he demanded. “Is he not a jewel—an _alhaja_?” And in truth the horse was a noble and gallant creature, in height at least sixteen hands, broad-chested, but of clean and elegant limbs. His neck was superbly arched, and his head towered on high like that of a swan. In colour he was a bright chestnut, save his flowing mane and tail, which were almost black. I expressed my admiration; whereupon the _herrador_, in high spirits, pressed his heels to the creature’s sides, and flinging the bridle on its neck, speeded over the plain with prodigious swiftness, shouting the old Spanish cry, _Cierra_! I attempted to keep up with him, but had not a chance. “I call him the flower of Spain,” said the _herrador_, rejoining me. “Purchase him, _Don Jorge_; his price is but three thousand _reals_. {192} I would not sell him for double that sum, but the Carlist thieves have their eyes upon him, and I am apprehensive that they will some day make a dash across the river and break into Villa Seca, all to get possession of my horse, ‘The Flower of Spain.’” It may be as well to observe here, that, within a month from this period, my friend the _herrador_, not being able to find a regular purchaser for his steed, entered into negociations with the aforesaid thieves respecting him, and finally disposed of the animal to their leader, receiving not the three thousand _reals_ he demanded, but an entire herd of horned cattle, probably driven from the plains of La Mancha. For this transaction, which was neither more nor less than high treason, he was cast into the prison of Toledo, where, however, he did not continue long; for during a short visit to Villa Seca, which I made in the spring of the following year, I found him _alcalde_ of that “republic.”