'That is no difficult matter,' replied the figure; 'the sound of your
voice was enough to tell me that.'
'You speak of voices,' said I; 'suppose the tone of your own voice were
to tell me who you are?'
'That it will not do,' replied my companion; 'you know nothing about
me--you can know nothing about me.'
'Be not sure of that, my friend; I am acquainted with many things of
which you have little idea.'
'Por exemplo,' said the figure.
'For example,' said I, 'you speak two languages.'
The figure moved on, seemed to consider a moment and then said slowly,
'Bueno.'
'You have two names,' I continued; 'one for the house, and the other for
the street; both are good, but the one by which you are called at home is
the one which you like best.'
The man walked on about ten paces, in the same manner as he had
previously done; all of a sudden he turned, and taking the bridle of the
burra gently in his hand, stopped her. I had now a full view of his face
and figure, and those huge features and Herculean form still occasionally
revisit me in my dreams. I see him standing in the moonshine, staring me
in the face with his deep calm eyes. At last he said--
'Are you then _one of us_?'
* * * * *
Upon the shoulder of the goatherd was a beast, which he told me was a
lontra, or otter, which he had lately caught in the neighbouring brook;
it had a string round its neck, which was attached to his arm. At his
left side was a bag, from the top of which peered the heads of two or
three singular looking animals; and at his right was squatted the sullen
cub of a wolf, which he was endeavouring to tame.
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