voyage； in which a breeze from the right point so favoured us that
we made sure of finding ourselves off the coast of Spain on the morrow
by daybreak。 But； as good seldom or never comes pure and unmixed；
without being attended or followed by some disturbing evil that
gives a shock to it； our fortune； or perhaps the curses which the Moor
had hurled at his daughter （for whatever kind of father they may
come from these are always to be dreaded）； brought it about that
when we were now in mid…sea； and the night about three hours spent； as
we were running with all sail set and oars lashed； for the favouring
breeze saved us the trouble of using them； we saw by the light of
the moon； which shone brilliantly； a square…rigged vessel in full sail
close to us； luffing up and standing across our course； and so close
that we had to strike sail to avoid running foul of her； while they
too put the helm hard up to let us pass。 They came to the side of
the ship to ask who we were； whither we were bound； and whence we
came； but as they asked this in French our renegade said； 〃Let no
one answer； for no doubt these are French corsairs who plunder all
comers。〃 Acting on this warning no one answered a word； but after we
had gone a little ahead； and the vessel was now lying to leeward；
suddenly they fired two guns； and apparently both loaded with
chain…shot； for with one they cut our mast in half and brought down
both it and the sail into the sea； and the other； discharged at the
same moment； sent a ball into our vessel amidships； staving her in
completely； but without doing any further damage。 We； however； finding
ourselves sinking began to shout for help and call upon those in the
ship to pick us up as we were beginning to fill。 They then lay to； and
lowering a skiff or boat； as many as a dozen Frenchmen； well armed
with match…locks； and their matches burning； got into it and came
alongside； and seeing how few we were； and that our vessel was going
down； they took us in； telling us that this had come to us through our
incivility in not giving them an answer。 Our renegade took the trunk
containing Zoraida's wealth and dropped it into the sea without anyone
perceiving what he did。 In short we went on board with the
Frenchmen； who； after having ascertained all they wanted to know about
us； rifled us of everything we had； as if they had been our
bitterest enemies； and from Zoraida they took even the anklets she
wore on her feet； but the distress they caused her did not distress me
so much as the fear I was in that from robbing her of her rich and
precious jewels they would proceed to rob her of the most precious
jewel that she valued more than all。 The desires； however； of those
people do not go beyond money； but of that their covetousness is
insatiable； and on this occasion it was carried to such a pitch that
they would have taken even the clothes we wore as captives if they had
been worth anything to them。 It was the advice of some of them to
throw us all into the sea wrapped up in a sail； for their purpose
was to trade at some of the ports of Spain； giving themselves out as
Bretons； and if they brought us alive they would be punished as soon
as the robbery was discovered； but the captain （who was the one who
had plundered my beloved Zoraida） said he was satisfied with the prize
he had got； and that he would not touch at any Spanish port； but
pass the Straits of Gibraltar by night； or as best he could； and
make for La Rochelle； from which he had sailed。 So they agreed by
common consent to give us the skiff belonging to their ship and all we
required for the short voyage that remained to us； and this they did
the next day on coming in sight of the Spanish coast； with which；
and the joy we felt； all our sufferings and miseries were as
completely forgotten as if they had never been endured by us； such
is the delight of recovering lost liberty。
It may have been about mid…day when they placed us in the boat；
giving us two kegs of water and some biscuit； and the captain； moved
by I know not what compassion； as the lovely Zoraida was about to
embark； gave her some forty gold crowns； and would not permit his
men to take from her those same garments which she has on now。 We
got into the boat； returning them thanks for their kindness to us； and
showing ourselves grateful rather than indignant。 They stood out to
sea； steering for the straits； we； without looking to any compass save
the land we had before us； set ourselves to row with such energy
that by sunset we were so near that we might easily； we thought；
land before the night was far advanced。 But as the moon did not show
that night； and the sky was clouded； and as we knew not whereabouts we
were； it did not seem to us a prudent thing to make for the shore；
as several of us advised； saying we ought to run ourselves ashore even
if it were on rocks and far from any habitation； for in this way we
should be relieved from the apprehensions we naturally felt of the
prowling vessels of the Tetuan corsairs； who leave Barbary at
nightfall and are on the Spanish coast by daybreak； where they
commonly take some prize； and then go home to sleep in their own
houses。 But of the conflicting counsels the one which was adopted
was that we should approach gradually； and land where we could if
the sea were calm enough to permit us。 This was done； and a little
before midnight we drew near to the foot of a huge and lofty mountain；
not so close to the sea but that it left a narrow space on which to
land conveniently。 We ran our boat up on the sand； and all sprang
out and kissed the ground； and with tears of joyful satisfaction
returned thanks to God our Lord for all his incomparable goodness to
us on our voyage。 We took out of the boat the provisions it contained；
and drew it up on the shore； and then climbed a long way up the
mountain； for even there we could not feel easy in our hearts； or
persuade ourselves that it was Christian soil that was now under our
feet。
The dawn came； more slowly； I think； than we could have wished； we
completed the ascent in order to see if from the summit any habitation
or any shepherds' huts could be discovered； but strain our eyes as
we might； neither dwelling； nor human being； nor path nor road could
we perceive。 However； we determined to push on farther； as it could
not but be that ere long we must see some one who could tell us
where we were。 But what distressed me most was to see Zoraida going on
foot over that rough ground； for though I once carried her on my
shoulders； she was more wearied by my weariness than rested by the
rest； and so she would never again allow me to undergo the exertion；
and went on very patiently and cheerfully； while I led her by the
hand。 We had gone rather less than a quarter of a league when the
sound of a little bell fell on our ears； a clear proof that there were
flocks hard by； and looking about carefully to see if any were
within view； we observed a young shepherd tranquilly and
unsuspiciously trimming a stick with his knife at the foot of a cork
tree。 We called to him； and he； raising his head； sprang nimbly to his
feet； for； as we afterwards learned； the first who presented
themselves to his sight were the renegade and Zoraida； and seeing them
in Moorish dress he imagined that all the Moors of Barbary were upon
him； and plunging with marvellous swiftness into the thicket in
front of him； he began to raise a prodigious outcry； exclaiming；
〃The Moors… the Moors have landed！ To arms； to arms！〃 We were all
thrown into perplexity by these cries； not knowing what to do； but
reflecting that the shouts of the shepherd would raise the country and
that the mounted coast…guard would come at once to see what was the
matter； we agreed that the renegade must strip off his Turkish
garments and put on a captive's jacket or coat which one of our
party gave him at once； though he himself was reduced to his shirt；
and so commending ourselves to God； we followed the same road which we
saw the shepherd take； expecting every moment that the coast…guard
would be down upon us。 Nor did our expectation deceive us； for two
hours had not passed when； coming out of the brushwood into the open
ground； we perceived some fifty mounted men swiftly approaching us
at a hand…gallop。 As soon as we saw them we stood still； waiting for
them； but as they came close and； instead of the Moors they were in
quest of； saw a set of poor Christians； they were taken aback； and one
of them asked if it could be we who were the cause of the shepherd
having raised the call to arms。 I said 〃Yes；〃 and as I was about to
explain to him what had occurred； and whence we came and who we
were； one of the Christians of our party recognised the horseman who
had put the question to us； and before I could say anything more he
exclaimed：
〃Thanks be to God； sirs； for bringing us to such good quarters； for；
if I do not deceive myself； the ground we stand on is that of Velez
Malaga unless； indeed； all my years of captivity have made me unable
to recollect that you； senor； who ask who we are； are Pedro de
Bustamante； my uncle。〃
The Christian captive had hardly uttered these words； when the
hor