Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/395

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378
378

378 An acoount of the grkat cid. closest attention, and if rubbing the strained, leg would assist in bringing about a cure, surely lliere was no lack of that, for Alonso and Monte were ex- ceedingly painstaking and attentive, but all others had very little to do except to take their turn ,iu^t and day to keep watch; and one Ipiliig that worried the officers was the thought that a large body of In- dians might be brought against them in retaliation for killing the Indian horse thieves, and so orders were given that no man should go out of view of the camp tq, case of a surprise. Wliile loafing around camp, there are naturally various topics conversed upon, but one day Coronado entertained quite a number of the troop with an ac- count of the exploits of Spain's national hero, Cid, or Roderigo Ruy Diaz, his proper name: "Comrades, you are all Spaniards, therefore it would be a travesty on our great Cid to introduce hira to you. We know there never was such anotiiar brave, chivalrous and noble soldier in all the world's history, but gentlemen, his fame and renown as a commander are worthy of emulation, and when we know of his magnanimity to those whom he defeated, it ought and must stamp him everlastingly as one of the noblest of the world's heroes. "Although the Cid had always been faithful to his king, yet because of the great commander being given to noble acts toward the vanquished Moors, the King got angry and confiscated all of his general's property, and ordered him from the kingdom of Cas- tUe, and he was compelled to go, and no person dared to extend the hospitality he deserved for fear of los-