the side of the Douro and go apart; now he carried in his hand a light
hunting spear which was gilded over, even such as the Kings from whom
he was descended were wont to bear; and he gave this to Vellido to hold
it while he went aside, to cover his feet. And Vellido Dolfos, when he
saw him in that guise, took the hunting spear and thrust it between his
shoulders, so that it went through him and came out at his breast. And
when he had stricken him he turned the reins and rode as fast as he
could toward the postern; this was not the first treason which he had
committed, for he had killed the Count Don Nuno treacherously. Now it
chanced that the Cid saw him riding thus, and asked him wherefore he
fled, and he would not answer; and then the Cid understood that he had
done some treason, and his heart misgave him that he had slain the
King; and he called in haste for his horse, but while they were
bringing it, Vellido had ridden far away; and the Cid being eager to
follow him, took only his lance and did not wait to have his spurs
buckled on. And he followed him to the postern and had well nigh
overtaken him, but Vellido got in; and then the Cid said in his anger,
Cursed be the knight who ever gets on horseback without his spurs. Now
in all the feats of the Cid never was fault found in him save only in
this, that he did not enter after Vellido into the town; but he did not
fail to do this for cowardice, neither for fear of death, or of
imprisonment; but because he thought that peradventure this was a
device between him and the King, and that he fled by the King's
command; for certes, if he had known that the King was slain, there was
nothing which would have prevented him from entering the town, and
slaying the traitor in the streets, thereright.

XXXI. Now the history saith, that when Vellido Dolfos had got within
the postern, he was in such fear both of those who were in the town and
of those who were without, that he went and placed himself under the