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Book FirstPart XCVI
Part XCVI
When we had reached the middle of the lake, we found a little bit of
level ground where we could land, and I saw that those four German gentlemen
had already come to shore there; but on our wishing to disembark, the boatmen
would hear nothing of it. Then I said to my young men: "Now is the time to
show what stuff we are made of; so draw your swords, and force these fellows
to put us on shore." This we did, not however without difficulty, for they
offered a stubborn resistance. When at last we got to land, we had to climb
that mountain for two miles, and it was more troublesome than getting up a
ladder. I was completely clothed in mail, with big boots, and a gun in my
hand; and it was raining as though the fountains of the heavens were opened.
Those devils, the German gentlemen, leading their little horses by the bridle,
accomplished miracles of agility; but our animals were not up to the business,
and we burst with the fatigue of making them ascend that hill of difficulty.
We had climbed a little way, when Ascanio`s horse, an excellent beast of
Hungarian race, made a false step. He was going a few paces before the courier
Busbacca to whom Ascanio had given his lance to carry for him. Well, the path
was so bad that the horse stumbled, and went on scrambling backwards, without
being able to regain his footing, till he stuck upon the point of the lance,
which that rogue of a courier had not the wit to keep out of his way. The
weapon passed right through his throat; and when my other workman went to help
him, his horse also, a black-coloured animal, slipped towards the lake, and
held on by some shrub which offered but a slight support. This horse was
carrying a pair of saddle-bags, which contained all my money and other
valuables. I cried out to the young man to save his own life, and let the
horse go to the devil. The fall was more than a mile of precipitous descent
above the waters of the lake. Just below the place our boatmen had taken up
their station; so that if the horse fell, he would have come precisely on
them. I was ahead of the whole company, and we waited to see the horse plunge
headlong; it seemed certain that he must go to perdition. During this I said
to my young men: "Be under no concern; let us save our lives, and give thanks
to God for all that happens. I am only distressed for that poor fellow
Busbacca, who tied his goblet and his jewels to the value of several thousands
of ducats on the horse`s saddle-bow, thinking that the safest place. My
things are but a few hundred crowns, and I am in no fear whatever, if only I
get God`s protection." Then Busbacca cried out: "I am not sorry for my own
loss, but for yours." "Why," said I to him, "are you sorry for my trifles, and
not for all that property of yours?" He answered: "I will tell you in God`s
name; in these circumstances and at the point of peril we have reached, truth
must be spoken. I know that yours are crowns, and are so in good sooth; but
that case in which I said I had so many jewels and other lies, is all full of
caviare." On hearing this I could not hold from laughing; my young men laughed
too; and he began to cry. The horse extricated itself by a great effort when
we had given it up for lost. So then, still laughing, we summoned our forces,
and bent ourselves to making the ascent. The four German gentlemen, having
gained the top before us, sent down some folk who gave us aid. Thus at length
we reached our lodging in the wilderness. Here, being wet to the skin, tired
out, and famished, we were most agreeably entertained; we dried ourselves,
took rest, and satisfied our hunger, while certain wild herbs were applied to
the wounded horse. They pointed out to us the plant in question, of which the
hedges were full; and we were told that if the wound was kept continually
plugged with its leaves, the beast would not only recover, but would serve us
just as if it had sustained no injury. We proceeded to do as they advised.
Then having thanked those gentlemen, and feeling ourselves entirely refreshed,
we quitted the place, and travelled onwards, thanking God for saving us from
such great perils.
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