refusal；　and　forthwith　caused　a　gallows；　tall　and　strong；　to　be
  erected　in　the　centre　of　the　Plaza　Nueva　for　the　execution　of　the
  corporal。
  〃Oho！　is　that　the　game？〃　said　Governor　Manco。　He　gave　orders；　and
  immediately　a　gibbet　was　reared　on　the　verge　of　the　great　beetling
  bastion　that　overlooked　the　Plaza。　〃Now；〃　said　he　in　a　message　to
  the　captain…general；　〃hang　my　soldier　when　you　please；　but　at　the　same
  time　that　he　is　swung　off　in　the　square；　look　up　to　see　your　escribano
  dangling　against　the　sky。〃
  The　captain…general　was　inflexible；　troops　were　paraded　in　the
  square；　the　drums　beat；　the　bell　tolled。　An　immense　multitude　of
  amateurs　gathered　together　to　behold　the　execution。　On　the　other　hand；
  the　governor　paraded　his　garrison　on　the　bastion；　and　tolled　the
  funeral　dirge　of　the　notary　from　the　Torre　de　la　Campana；　or　Tower
  of　the　Bell。
  The　notary's　wife　pressed　through　the　crowd　with　a　whole　progeny
  of　little　embryo　escribanos　at　her　heels；　and　throwing　herself　at
  the　feet　of　the　captain…general；　implored　him　not　to　sacrifice　the
  life　of　her　husband；　and　the　welfare　of　herself　and　her　numerous
  little　ones；　to　a　point　of　pride；　〃for　you　know　the　old　governor　too
  well；〃　said　she；　〃to　doubt　that　he　will　put　his　threat　in　execution；
  if　you　hang　the　soldier。〃
  The　captain…general　was　overpowered　by　her　tears　and　lamentations；
  and　the　clamors　of　her　callow　brood。　The　corporal　was　sent　up　to　the
  Alhambra；　under　a　guard；　in　his　gallows　garb；　like　a　hooded　friar；　but
  with　head　erect　and　a　face　of　iron。　The　escribano　was　demanded　in
  exchange；　according　to　the　cartel。　The　once　bustling　and
  self…sufficient　man　of　the　law　was　drawn　forth　from　his　dungeon　more
  dead　than　alive。　All　his　flippancy　and　conceit　had　evaporated；　his
  hair；　it　is　said；　had　nearly　turned　gray　with　affright；　and　he　had　a
  downcast；　dogged　look；　as　if　he　still　felt　the　halter　round　his　neck。
  The　old　governor　stuck　his　one　arm　akimbo；　and　for　a　moment　surveyed
  him　with　an　iron　smile。　〃Henceforth；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　〃moderate
  your　zeal　in　hurrying　others　to　the　gallows；　be　not　too　certain　of
  your　safety；　even　though　you　should　have　the　law　on　your　side；　and
  above　all　take　care　how　you　play　off　your　schoolcraft　another　time
  upon　an　old　soldier。〃
  Governor　Manco　and　the　Soldier。
  WHILE　Governor　Manco；　or　〃the　one…armed；〃　kept　up　a　show　of　military
  state　in　the　Alhambra；　he　became　nettled　at　the　reproaches　continually
  cast　upon　his　fortress；　of　being　a　nestling　place　of　rogues　and
  contrabandistas。　On　a　sudden；　the　old　potentate　determined　on
  reform；　and　setting　vigorously　to　work；　ejected　whole　nests　of
  vagabonds　out　of　the　fortress　and　the　gipsy　caves　with　which　the
  surrounding　hills　are　honeycombed。　He　sent　out　soldiers；　also；　to
  patrol　the　avenues　and　footpaths；　with　orders　to　take　up　all
  suspicious　persons。
  One　bright　summer　morning；　a　patrol；　consisting　of　the　testy　old
  corporal　who　had　distinguished　himself　in　the　affair　of　the　notary；
  a　trumpeter　and　two　privates；　was　seated　under　the　garden　wall　of
  the　Generalife；　beside　the　road　which　leads　down　from　the　mountain
  of　the　sun；　when　they　heard　the　tramp　of　a　horse；　and　a　male　voice
  singing　in　rough；　though　not　unmusical　tones；　an　old　Castilian
  campaigning　song。
  Presently　they　beheld　a　sturdy；　sunburnt　fellow；　clad　in　the
  ragged　garb　of　a　foot…soldier；　leading　a　powerful　Arabian　horse；
  caparisoned　in　the　ancient　Morisco　fashion。
  Astonished　at　the　sight　of　a　strange　soldier　descending；　steed　in
  hand；　from　that　solitary　mountain；　the　corporal　stepped　forth　and
  challenged　him。
  〃Who　goes　there？〃
  〃A　friend。〃
  〃Who　and　what　are　you？〃
  〃A　poor　soldier　just　from　the　wars；　with　a　cracked　crown　and　empty
  purse　for　a　reward。〃
  By　this　time　they　were　enabled　to　view　him　more　narrowly。　He　had　a
  black　patch　across　his　forehead；　which；　with　a　grizzled　beard；　added
  to　a　certain　dare…devil　cast　of　countenance；　while　a　slight　squint
  threw　into　the　whole　an　occasional　gleam　of　roguish　good　humor。
  Having　answered　the　questions　of　the　patrol；　the　soldier　seemed　to
  consider　himself　entitled　to　make　others　in　return。　〃May　I　ask；〃
  said　he；　〃what　city　is　that　which　I　see　at　the　foot　of　the　hill？〃
  〃What　city！〃　cried　the　trumpeter；　〃come；　that's　too　bad。　Here's　a
  fellow　lurking　about　the　mountain　of　the　sun；　and　demands　the　name
  of　the　great　city　of　Granada！〃
  〃Granada！　Madre　de　Dios！　can　it　be　possible？〃
  〃Perhaps　not！〃　rejoined　the　trumpeter；　〃and　perhaps　you　have　no　idea
  that　yonder　are　the　towers　of　the　Alhambra。〃
  〃Son　of　a　trumpet；〃　replied　the　stranger；　〃do　not　trifle　with　me；　if
  this　be　indeed　the　Alhambra；　I　have　some　strange　matters　to　reveal
  to　the　governor。〃
  〃You　will　have　an　opportunity；〃　said　the　corporal；　〃for　we　mean　to
  take　you　before　him。〃　By　this　time　the　trumpeter　had　seized　the　bridle
  of　the　steed；　the　two　privates　had　each　secured　an　arm　of　the　soldier；
  the　corporal　put　himself　in　front；　gave　the　word；　〃Forward…　march！〃
  and　away　they　marched　for　the　Alhambra。
  The　sight　of　a　ragged　foot…soldier　and　a　fine　Arabian　horse；　brought
  in　captive　by　the　patrol；　attracted　the　attention　of　all　the　idlers　of
  the　fortress；　and　of　those　gossip　groups　that　generally　assemble　about
  wells　and　fountains　at　early　dawn。　The　wheel　of　the　cistern　paused
  in　its　rotations；　and　the　slipshod　servant…maid　stood　gaping；　with
  pitcher　in　hand；　as　the　corporal　passed　by　with　his　prize。　A　motley
  train　gradually　gathered　in　the　rear　of　the　escort。
  Knowing　nods　and　winks　and　conjectures　passed　from　one　to　another。
  〃It　is　a　deserter；〃　said　one。　〃A　contrabandista；〃　said　another。　〃A
  bandalero；〃　said　a　third…　until　it　was　affirmed　that　a　captain　of　a
  desperate　band　of　robbers　had　been　captured　by　the　prowess　of　the
  corporal　and　his　patrol。　〃Well；　well；〃　said　the　old　crones；　one　to
  another；　〃captain　or　not；　let　him　get　out　of　the　grasp　of　old　Governor
  Manco　if　he　can；　though　he　is　but　one…handed。〃
  Governor　Manco　was　seated　in　one　of　the　inner　halls　of　the　Alhambra；
  taking　his　morning's　cup　of　chocolate　in　company　with　his　confessor；　a
  fat　Franciscan　friar；　from　the　neighboring　convent。　A　demure；
  dark…eyed　damsel　of　Malaga；　the　daughter　of　his　housekeeper；　was
  attending　upon　him。　The　world　hinted　that　the　damsel；　who；　with　all
  her　demureness；　was　a　sly　buxom　baggage；　had　found　out　a　soft　spot
  in　the　iron　heart　of　the　old　governor；　and　held　complete　control
  over　him。　But　let　that　pass…　the　domestic　affairs　of　these　mighty
  potentates　of　the　earth　should　not　be　too　narrowly　scrutinized。
  When　word　was　brought　that　a　suspicious　stranger　had　been　taken
  lurking　about　the　fortress；　and　was　actually　in　the　outer　court；　in
  durance　of　the　corporal；　waiting　the　pleasure　of　his　excellency；　the
  pride　and　stateliness　of　office　swelled　the　bosom　of　the　governor。
  Giving　back　his　chocolate　cup　into　the　hands　of　the　demure　damsel；
  he　called　for　his　basket…hilted　sword；　girded　it　to　his　side；
  twirled　up　his　mustaches；　took　his　seat　in　a　large　high…backed
  chair；　assumed　a　bitter　and　forbidding　aspect；　and　ordered　the
  prisoner　into　his　presence。　The　soldier　was　brought　in；　still
  closely　pinioned　by　his　captors；　and　guarded　by　the　corporal。　He
  maintained；　however；　a　resolute　self…confident　air；　and　returned　the
  sharp；　scrutinizing　look　of　the　governor　with　an　easy　squint；　which　by
  no　means　pleased　the　punctilious　old　potentate。
  〃Well；　culprit；〃　said　the　governor；　after　he　had　regarded　him　for
  a　moment　in　silence；　〃what　have　you　to　say　for　yourself…　who　are　you？〃
  〃A　Soldier；　just　from　the　wars；　who　has　brought　away　nothing　but
  scars　and　bruises。〃
  〃A　soldier…　humph…　a　foot…soldier　by　your　garb。　I　understand　you
  have　a　fine　Arabian　horse。　I　presume　you　brought　him　too　from　the
  wars；　besides　your　scars　and　bruises。〃
  〃May　it　please　your　excellency；　I　have　something　strange　to　tell
  about　that　horse。　Indeed　I　have　one　of　the　most　wonderful　things　to
  relate。　Something　too　that　concerns　the　security　of　this　fortress；
  indeed　of　all　Granada。　But　it　is　a　matter　to　be　imparted　only　to
  your　private　ear；　or　in　presence　of　such　only　as　are　in　your
  confidence。〃
  The　governor　considered　for　a　moment；　and　then　directed　the　corporal
  and　his　men　to　withdraw；　but　to　post　themselves　outside　of　the　door；
  and　be　ready　at　a　call。　〃This　holy　friar；〃　said　he；　〃is　my
  confessor；　you　may　say　any　thing　in　his　presence…　and　this　damsel；〃
  nodding　toward　the　handmaid；　who　had　loitered　with　an　air　of　great
  curiosity；　〃this　damsel　is　of　great　secrecy　and　discretion；　and　to
  be　trusted　with　any　thing。〃
  The　soldier　gave　a　glance　between　a　squint　and　a　leer　at　the
  demure　handmaid。　〃I　am　perfectly　willing；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　damsel
  should　remain。〃
  When　all　the　rest　had　withdrawn；　the　soldier　commenced　his　story。　He
  was　a　fluent；　smooth…tongued　varlet；　and　had　a　command　of　language
  above　his　apparent　rank。
  〃May　it　please　you