"This, no doubt, Sancho, will be a most mighty and perilous adventure, in

which it will be needful for me to put forth all my valour and

resolution."

"Unlucky me!" answered Sancho; "if this adventure happens to be one of

phantoms, as I am beginning to think it is, where shall I find the ribs

to bear it?"

"Be they phantoms ever so much," said Don Quixote, "I will not permit

them to touch a thread of thy garments; for if they played tricks with

thee the time before, it was because I was unable to leap the walls of

the yard; but now we are on a wide plain, where I shall be able to wield

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my sword as I please."

"And if they enchant and cripple you as they did the last time," said

Sancho, "what difference will it make being on the open plain or not?"

"For all that," replied Don Quixote, "I entreat thee, Sancho, to keep a

good heart, for experience will tell thee what mine is."

"I will, please God," answered Sancho, and the two retiring to one side

of the road set themselves to observe closely what all these moving

lights might be; and very soon afterwards they made out some twenty

encamisados, all on horseback, with lighted torches in their hands, the

awe-inspiring aspect of whom completely extinguished the courage of

Sancho, who began to chatter with his teeth like one in the cold fit of

an ague; and his heart sank and his teeth chattered still more when they

perceived distinctly that behind them there came a litter covered over

with black and followed by six more mounted figures in mourning down to

the very feet of their mules--for they could perceive plainly they were

not horses by the easy pace at which they went. And as the encamisados

came along they muttered to themselves in a low plaintive tone. This

strange spectacle at such an hour and in such a solitary place was quite

enough to strike terror into Sancho's heart, and even into his master's;

and (save in Don Quixote's case) did so, for all Sancho's resolution had

now broken down. It was just the opposite with his master, whose

imagination immediately conjured up all this to him vividly as one of the

adventures of his books.

He took it into his head that the litter was a bier on which was borne

some sorely wounded or slain knight, to avenge whom was a task reserved

for him alone; and without any further reasoning he laid his lance in

rest, fixed himself firmly in his saddle, and with gallant spirit and

bearing took up his position in the middle of the road where the

encamisados must of necessity pass; and as soon as he saw them near at

hand he raised his voice and said:




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