midday
An hour later they asked him again , whereon he replied : Perhaps to-night , perhaps to-morrow , perhaps never , as there were many thieves about , and if they escaped the thieves they would probably be captured by the Moors . `` I think there is one thief very near to us , '' said Peter in English , looking at this ill-favoured young man , then added in his broken Spanish , `` Friend , if we fall in with robbers or Moors , the first one who dies will be yourself , '' and he tapped the hilt of his sword . The lad uttered a Spanish curse , and turned the head of his pony round as though he would ride back to Motril , then changed his mind and pushed on a long way in front of them , nor could they come near him again for hours . So hard was the road and so feeble were the mules that , notwithstanding a midday halt to rest them , it was nightfall before they reached the top of the Sierra , and in the last sunset glow , separated from them by the rich _ vega _ or plain , saw the minarets and palaces of Granada . Now they wished to push on , but their guide swore that it was impossible , as in the dark they would fall over precipices while descending to the plain . There was a _ venta _ or inn near by , he said , where they could sleep , starting again at dawn . When Castell said that they did not wish to go to an inn , he answered that they must , since they had eaten what food they had , and here on the road there was no fodder for the beasts .