_Benedict_.—When I arrived at Corunna, I inquired after yourself, _lieber Herr_, and they informed me that, only the day before my arrival, you had departed for Oviedo: and when I heard that, my heart died within me, for I was now at the far end of Galicia, without a friend to help me. For a day or two I knew not what to do; at last I determined to make for the frontier of France, passing through Oviedo in the way, where I hoped to see you, and ask counsel of you. So I begged and bettled among the Germans of Corunna. I, however, got very little from them, only a few _cuarts_, less than the thieves had given me on the road from Saint James, and with these I departed for the Asturias by the way of Mondonedo. _Och_, what a town is that, full of canons, priests, and _pfaffen_, all of them more Carlist than Carlos himself. One day I went to the bishop’s palace and spoke to him, telling him I was a pilgrim from Saint James, and requesting assistance. He told me, however, that he could not relieve me, and as for my being a pilgrim from Saint James, he was glad of it, and hoped that it would be of service to my soul. So I left Mondonedo, and got amongst the wild mountains, begging and bettling at the door of every _choza_ that I passed; telling all I saw that I was a pilgrim from Saint James, and showing my passport in proof that I had been there. _Lieber Herr_, no person gave me a _cuart_, nor even a piece of _broa_, and both Gallegans and Asturians laughed at Saint James, and told me that his name was no longer a passport in Spain. I should have starved if I had not sometimes plucked an ear or two out of the maize fields; I likewise gathered grapes from the _parras_ and berries from the brambles, and in this manner I subsisted till I arrived at the _bellotas_, where I slaughtered a stray kid which I met, and devoured part of the flesh raw, so great was my hunger. It made me, however, very ill; and for two days I lay in a _barranco_ half dead and unable to help myself; it was a mercy that I was not devoured by the wolves. I then struck across the country for Oviedo: how I reached it I do not know; I was like one walking in a dream. Last night I slept in an empty hog-sty about two leagues from here, and ere I left it, I fell down on my knees and prayed to God that I might find you, _lieber Herr_, for you were my last hope. _Myself_.—And what do you propose to do at present? _Benedict_.—What can I say, _lieber Herr_? I know not what to do. I will be guided in everything by your counsel. _Myself_.—I shall remain at Oviedo a few days longer, during which time you can lodge at this _posada_, and endeavour to recover from the fatigue of your disastrous journeys; perhaps before I depart, we may hit on some plan to extricate you from your present difficulties.