n, 'for you speak hoarse,' said he, 'and
are tall and fair like that family.' I sat down amongst them and said I
was no Catalan, but I came from a spot in the western sea many leagues
distant to sell that book at half the price it cost, and that their
souls' welfare depended upon their being acquainted with it. I then
explained to them the nature of the New Testament and read to them the
Parable of the Sower. They stared at each other again, but said that
they were poor and could not buy books. I rose, mounted, and was going
away, saying to them: 'Peace bide with you.' Whereupon the young man
with the gun rose, and saying; '_Caspita_! this is odd,' snatched the
book from my hand, and gave me the price I had demanded.

Perhaps the whole world might be searched in vain for a spot whose
natural charms could rival those of this plain or valley of Bembibre,
with its wall of mighty mountains, its spreading chestnut-trees, and its
groves of oaks and willows which clothe the banks of its stream, a
tributary to the Minho. True it is that when I passed through it the
candle of heaven was blazing in full splendour, and everything lighted by
its rays looked gay, glad and blessed. Whether it would have filled me
with the same feelings of admiration if viewed beneath another sky I will
not pretend to determine, but it certainly possessed advantages which at
no time could fail to delight; for it exhibited all the peaceful beauties
of an English landscape blended with something wild and grand, and I
thought within myself that he must be a restless dissatisfied man who
born amongst those scenes would wish to quit them. At the time I would
have desired no better fate than that of a shepherd on the prairies or a
hunter on the hills of Bembibre.

Three hours passed away, and we were in another situation. We had halted
and refreshed ourselves and horses at Bembibre, a village of mud and
slate, and which possessed little to attract attention. We were now
ascending, for the road was over one of the extreme ledges of those
frontier hills which I have before so often mentioned; but the aspect of
heaven had blackened, clouds were rolling rapidly from the west over the
mountains, and a cold wind was moaning dismally. 'There is a storm
travelling through the air,' said a peasant, whom we overtook mounted on
a wretched mule, 'and the Asturians had better be on the look-out, for it
is speeding in their direction.' He had scarce spoken wh