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line beyond which is magic, and the man in the leather coat was clearly a craftsman: and he said nothing for he
worked at a craft. And when the arboreal crown was finished, and its edges were straight and sharp, an hour had
passed since he began near noon. Then he drilled a hole near the rim and, drawing a thin green ribbon from his
pocket, he passed it through the hole and, rising, he suddenly hung it round Rodriguez' neck.
"Wear it thus," he said, "while you go through Shadow Valley."
As he said this he stepped back among the trees, and Rodriguez followed to thank him. Not finding him behind
the tree where he thought to find him, he walked round several others, and Morano joined his search; but the
stranger had vanished. When they returned again to the little clearing they heard sounds of movement in the
wood, and a little way off where the four horses had grazed there were now only two, which were standing
there with their heads up.
"We must ride, Morano," said Rodriguez.
"Ride, master?" said Morano dolefully.
"If we walk away," said Rodriguez, "they will walk after us."
 "They" meant la Garda. It was unnecessary for him to tell Morano what I thus tell the reader, for in the wood
it was hard to hear anyone else, while to think of anyone else was out of the question.
"What shall I do to them, master?" said Morano.
They were now standing close to their captives and this simple question calmed the four men's curses, all of a
sudden, like shutting the door on a storm.
"Leave them," Rodriguez said. And la Garda's spirits rose and they cursed again.
"Ah. To die in the wood," said Morano. "No," said Rodriguez; and he walked towards the horses. And
something in that "No" sounding almost contemptuous, Morano's feelings were hurt, and he blurted out to his
master "But how can they get away to get their food?? It is good knots that I tie, master."
"Morano," Rodriguez said, "I remember ten ways in the books of romance whereby bound men untie
themselves; and doubtless one or two more I have read and forgot; and there may be other ways in the books
that I have not read, besides any way that there be of which no books tell. And in addition to these ways, one of
them may draw a comrade's sword with his teeth and thus ..."
"Shall I pull out their teeth?" said Morano.
"Ride," said Rodriguez, for they were now come to the horses. And sorrowfully Morano looked at the horse
that was to be his, as a man might look at a small, uncomfortable boat that is to carry him far upon a stormy day.
And then Rodriguez helped him into the saddle.
"Can you stay there?" Rodriguez said. "We have far to go."
"Master," Morano answered, "these hands can hold till evening."
And then Rodriguez mounted, leaving Morano gripping the high front of the saddle with his large brown hands.
But as soon as the horses started he got a grip with his heels as well, and later on with his knees. Rodriguez led
the way on to the straggling road and was soon galloping northwards, while Morano's heels kept his horse up
close to his master's. Morano rode as though trained in the same school that some while later taught Macaulay's
equestrian, who rode with "loose rein and bloody spur." Yet the miles went swiftly by as they galloped on soft
white dust, which lifted and settled, some of it, back on the lazy road, while some of it was breathed by Morano.
The gold coin on the green silk ribbon flapped up and down as Rodriguez rode, till he stuffed it inside his clothing
and remembered no more about it. Once they saw before them the man they had snatched from the noose: he
was going hard and leading a loose horse. And then where the road bent round a low hill he galloped out of sight
and they saw him no more. He had the loose horse to change on to as soon as the other was tired: they had no
prospect of overtaking him. And so he passed out of their minds as their host had done who went away with his
household to Saragossa.
At first Rodriguez' mandolin, that was always slung on his back, bumped up and down uncomfortably; but he
eased it by altering the strap: small things like this bring contentment. And then he settled down to ride. But no
contentment came near Morano nor did he look for it. On the first day of his wanderings he had worn his master's
clothes, which has been an experience standing somewhat where toothache does, which is somewhere about [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]