And they would have feasted
him and done him honour, both for his work with the sword and for
his songs to the mandolin; and they would have marched away soon
to their own country and would have taken him with them and
advanced him to honour there. But Rodriguez would not stay with
them for he had his castle at last, and must needs march off at
once with his captive and Morano to see the fulfilment of his
dream. And therefore he thanked the leaders of that host with many
a courtesy and many a well-bent bow, and explained to them how it
was about his castle, and felicitated them on the victory of their
good cause, and so wished them farewell. And they said farewell
sorrowfully: but when they saw he would go, they gave him horses
for himself and Morano, and another for his captive; and they
heaped them with sacks of provender and blankets and all things
that could give him comfort upon a journey: all this they brought
him out of their spoils of war, and they would give him no less
that the most that the horses could carry. And then Rodriguez
turned to his captive again, who now stood on his feet.
"Senor," he said, "pray tell us all of your castle wherewith you
ransom your life."
"Senor," he answered, "I have a castle in Spain."
"Master," broke in Morano, his eyes lighting up with delight,
"there are no castles like the Spanish ones."
They got to horse then, all three; the captive on a horse of far
poorer build than the other two and well-laden with sacks, for
Rodriguez took no chance of his castle cantering, as it were, away
from him on four hooves through the dust.
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