_Benedict_.—I will tell you: about half-way between Saint James and Corunna, as I was walking along, thinking of the _Schatz_, I heard a loud galloping, and looking around me I saw two men on horseback coming across the field with the swiftness of the wind, and making directly for me. “_Lieber Gott_,” said I, “these are thieves, these are factious;” and so they were. They came up to me in a moment and bade me stand; so I flung down my staff, took off my hat, and saluted them. “Good day, _caballeros_,” said I to them. “Good day, countryman,” said they to me, and then we stood staring at each other for more than a minute. _Lieber Himmel_, {75} I never saw such robbers; so finely dressed, so well armed, and mounted so bravely on two fiery little _hakkas_, {76} that looked as if they could have taken wing and flown up into the clouds! So we continued staring at each other, till at last one asked me who I was, whence I came, and where I was going. “Gentlemen,” said I, “I am a Swiss; I have been to Saint James to perform a religious vow, and am now returning to my own country.” I said not a word about the treasure, for I was afraid that they would have shot me at once, conceiving that I carried part of it about me. “Have you any money?” they demanded. “Gentlemen,” I replied, “you see how I travel on foot, with my shoes torn to pieces; I should not do so if I had money. I will not deceive you, however; I have a _peseta_ and a few _cuartos_;” and thereupon I took out what I had and offered it to them. “Fellow,” said they, “we are _caballeros_ of Galicia, and do not take _pesetas_, much less _cuartos_. Of what opinion are you? Are you for the queen?” “No, gentlemen,” said I, “I am not for the queen; but, at the same time, allow me to tell you that I am not for the king either. I know nothing about the matter; I am a Swiss, and fight neither for nor against anybody unless I am paid.” This made them laugh, and then they questioned me about Saint James, and the troops there, and the captain-general; and not to disoblige them, I told them all I knew, and much more. Then one of them, who looked the fiercest and most determined, took his trombone in his hand, and pointing it at me, said, “Had you been a Spaniard, we should have blown your head to shivers, for we should have thought you a spy; but we see you are a foreigner, and believe what you have said. Take, therefore, this _peseta_ and go your way; but beware that you tell nobody anything about us, for if you do, _carracho_!” He then discharged his trombone just over my head, so that for a moment I thought myself shot; and then with an awful shout, they both galloped away, their horses leaping over the _barrancos_, as if possessed with many devils. _Myself_.—And what happened to you on your arrival at Corunna?