Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 1

iC THE ADVENTURES OF
Though I did not know what to make of this
rencounter. I did not prefage any thing had? ■
from it; for (faid I to myfelf) if thefe people
were thieves, they would have robbed me, andlj
perhaps murdered me at once : they mull cer-1
tainly be honelt gentlemen, who live hard byj
and who, feeing me in a panic, have pity on my
condition, and carry me home with them out of L
charity. But I did not long remain in fufpence;; '
for. after feveral windings and turnings, which1
we performed in great dilence, we came to thel 1
foot of a hill, where we alighted; undone of the; ;
horfemen faid to me, “ This is our dwelling-! 1
place.” I looked around, but perceived neither;
houfe, hut, nor the lead appearance of any ha-^
bitation : neverthelefs, thefe two men lifted up 1
a huge wooden trap-door covered with earth and
brambles, which concealed the entrance of a
long fhelving palfage under ground, into tvhich,
the horfes went of themfelves, like beads that ■
were uied to it; while the cavaliers, taking the 1
fame path,-made me follow them: then lower-jt
mg the cover, with cords faftened to the inlide 1
tor that purpofe, behold the worthy kinfman of k
iny uncle Feres, caught like a moufe in a trap, i 1
C H A P. IV.
A defcription of the Jubterranean habitation, an^\ '
of what Gil Bias obferved therein.
I NOW difcovered my fituation, and any on® '
may eaiily believe, that this difcovery elfectu-i /
ally difpelled my former fear; a terror mord k-
mighty and better rbuilded took pofleflion of my!;
foul; I laid my account with loiing my life •