eous knight whom he
met.

When all was ready they set off together one night, without taking leave
of their families, and rode steadily on, so that by daybreak they were
beyond the reach of pursuit. Sancho Panza sat his ass like a patriarch,
carrying with him his saddle-bags and leather bottle; and all his
thoughts were of the Isle which his master had promised him. Don Quixote
was lost in loftier meditations until he was roused from his reverie by
the voice of his squire, who said: "I hope your Grace has not forgotten
the Isle which I was to have, for I shall know well how to govern it,
however big it may be."

"As to that," replied Don Quixote "thou needest have no fear; I shall
only be complying with an ancient and honorable custom of
knights-errant, and, indeed, I purpose to improve on their practice,
for, instead of waiting, as they often did, until thou art worn out in
my service, I shall seek the first occasion to bestow on thee this gift;
and it may be that before a week has passed thou wilt be crowned king of
that Isle."

"Well," said Sancho, "if this miracle should come to pass, my good wife
Joan will be a queen and my sons young princes."

"Who doubts it?" answered Don Quixote.

"I do," rejoined Sancho. "My Joan a queen! Nay, if it rained crowns, I
don't believe that one would ever settle on my dame's head. Believe me,
your honor, she's not worth three farthings as a queen; she might manage
as a countess, though that would be hard enough."

"Think not so meanly of thyself, Sancho," said Don Quixote, gravely.
"Marquis is the very least title which I intend for thee, if thou wilt
be content with that."

"That I will, and heaven bless your honor," said Sancho heartily. "I
will take what you give and be thankful, knowing that you will not make
the burden too heavy for my back."

Chatting thus, they reached the top of rising ground and saw before them
thirty or forty windmills in the plain below; and as soon as Don Quixote
set eyes on them he said to his squire: "Friend Sancho, we are in luck
to-day! See, there stands a troop of monstrous giants, thirty or more,
and with them I will forthwith do battle and slay them every one. With
their spoils we will lay the foundation of our fortune, as is the
victor's right; moreover it is doing heaven good service to sweep this
generation of vipers from off the face of the earth."

"What giants do you mean?" asked Sancho Panza.

"Those whom thou seest yonder," an