As they rode along one day talking of many things, Don Quixote beheld
a cloud of dust rising right before them.

"Seest thou that cloud of dust, Sancho?" he asked. "It is raised by a
great army marching this way."

"Why, master," said Sancho, "there must be two armies there, for
yonder is just such another cloud of dust."

The knight looked, and was overjoyed, believing that two armies were
about to meet and fight in the plain.

"What are we to do, master?" asked Sancho.

"Do!" said Don Quixote, "why, what can we do but help the weaker side?
Look yonder, Sancho, that knight whom thou seest in the gilded armory
with a lion crouching at the feet of a lady painted on his shield,
that is the valiant Laurcalco. That other, the giant on his right,
Brandabarbaran." And he ran over a long list of names of knights whom
he believed that he saw.

Sancho listened, as dumb as a fish; but at last he gasped. "Why,
master, you might as well tell me that it snows. Never a knight, nor a
giant, nor a man can I see."

"How!" answered Don Quixote, "canst thou not hear their horses neigh,
and their drums beating?"

"Drums!" said Sancho. "Not I! I hear only the bleating of sheep."