The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

BOOK VI

THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS of Santillane. BOOK VI. chapter i. The conduct of Gil Blas and his companions, after they quitted the Count de Polan. The important project which Ambrose formed, and the manner in which it was executed. The Count de Polan having spent one half of the night in thanking and assuring us, that we might depend upon his gratitude, called the landlord, in order to consult with him about the means of getting in safety to Turis, whither he designed to go. We left that nobleman to take his measures accordingly; and departing from the inn, followed the road that Lamela was pleased to choose. After having travelled two hours, day surprised us near Campelio; upon which, we immediately betook ourselves to the mountains, which are between that village and Requena, and there passed the day in reposing ourselves, and counting our finances, which were a good deal increased by the money of the robbers; for above three hundred pistoles were found in their pockets. As soon as it was dark we set forward again, and next morning entered the kingdom of Valencia. We retired to the first wood that presented itself to our view; and pushing a good way into it, arrived at a place through which a rivulet of chrystalline water gently glided in its way to join the streams of Guadalaviar .* The shade projected by the trees, and the grass which the place afforded in abundance to our horses, would have determined us to halt here, even if we had not been resolved upon it before. We alighted therefore, and prepared to pass the day very agreeably; but when we went to breakfast, found very little provision left. We began to * Guadalaviar, a river of Spain that taking its rise near the source of the Tagus, on the confines of Arragon and New Castile, traverses the first of these kingdoms, enters Valencia, waters the capital , and discharges itself into the gulph of that name. ...