Page:Lands of the Saracen 1859.djvu/458

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THE LANDS OF THE SARACEN.

and then broke into a fresh explosion of laughter. Passing the Spanish Lines, which stretch across the neck of the sandy little peninsula, connecting Gibraltar with the main land, we rode under the terrible batteries which snarl at Spain from this side of the Rock. Row after row of enormous guns bristle the walls, or look out from the galleries hewn in the sides of inaccessible cliffs. An artificial moat is cut along the base of the Rock, and a simple bridge-road leads into the fortress and town. After giving up my passport I was allowed to enter, José having already obtained a permit from the Spanish authorities.

I clattered up the long street of the town to the Club House, where I found a company of English friends. In the evening, José made his appearance, to settle our accounts and take his leave of me. While scrambling down the rocky stairway of Gaucin, José had said to me: "Look you, Señor, I am very fond of English beer, and if I get you to Gibraltar to-day you must give me a glass of it." When, therefore, he came in the evening, his eyes sparkled at the sight of a bottle of Alsop's Ale, and a handful of good Gibraltar cigars. “Ah, Señor," said he, after our books were squared, and he had pocketed his gratificacion, "I am sorry we are going to part; for we are good friends, are we not, Señor?" ‘Yes, José," said I; “if I ever come to Granada again, I shall take no other guide than José Garcia; and I will have you fora longer journey than this. We shall go over all Spain together, mi amigo!" ‘May God grant it!" responded José, crossing himself; "and now, Señor, I must go. I shall travel back to Granada, muy triste, Señor, muy triste." The faithful fellows eyes were full of tears, and, as he lifted my hand twice to his