As it is not my intention, however, to pretend to entertain my reader with a journal, I need only add, that, after having concealed myself in this manner in the wood for a full fortnight, I considered that I had no longer any thing to fear, and that all the hounds of Justice had by this time so completely lost scent of me as to have given over their pursuit. I fished up my treasure again, which I deposited at the bottom of my hamper, under some fresh provisions which I had been again to Madrid to procure. As to my basket, I left that in the water with the stones upon it. I then cut me two good sticks, one to carry my burthen on my back, and the other I made into a sort of pilgrim’s staff; after which, like a new pilgrim, I took my route towards Toledo across the fields, thinking it more prudent to avoid the high roads.
_Guzman in his way to Toledo meets with a young man: what passed between them._
I tripped along so briskly, that after two nights trudge, I found myself in the midst of the _Sagra_, near a wood called Açuqueyca, within about two leagues of Toledo. I entered this wood, intending to rest there the whole of the day, that I might not enter the City till night. I sat down under a shady tree, and began to think in what manner I should spend my money. I soon determined on so many fine purchases, that four times what I possessed would have been insufficient to have procured them. It were impossible to enumerate the variety of visions and fancies that possessed my mind. I was no longer afraid of appearing before my relations like a beggar, but now looked forward with pleasure to my arrival at Genoa, and all the purchases that I made in my mind, were with a view to cut a most brilliant figure among them.
A stream of clear spring water ran at my feet, with which I found myself much refreshed, and beginning to feel hungry, I spread my provisions on the grass for breakfast. Scarcely had I eaten a mouthful, when I heard a noise, and turning round hastily, I was much alarmed at perceiving a man close behind me, seated also on the grass, with his head reclining against a tree. But when I considered him with attention I soon found that I had nothing to fear. He appeared to be about my own age, but seemed as raw and inexperienced as if he had not been long weaned from his mother’s breast. Although he was well dressed and had a large bundle lying at his side, through which I could discern some clothes and linen, he looked so unhappy that I judged his purse could not be very full, and set him down for some knight-errant like myself, who had been fool enough to forsake his family to wander about the world. We stared at each other for some moments without saying a word; but when I observed that he looked with a longing eye on my provisions, I could not help pitying him. His eager looks reminded me of my own feelings when I stood before the kind-hearted Monk at the Inn; and I determined not to be less generous than his Reverence. I, therefore, immediately invited this young man in the most polite manner to breakfast with me. Shame prevented him at first from accepting my offer; but when I repeated it, he laid aside his modesty, and confessed to me that he had not tasted any thing for the last four and twenty hours. This I found no difficulty in believing, when I saw in what style he demolished the meat and the bread and cheese I gave him.