1832.J Autobiography of Polinario, the Spanish Bandit. 



" Good evening, Sen or Tobias," said I, " I've come to wish you 

 health in this world, and a moderate lease of purgatory in the next ; 

 you've heard, no doubt, we cross the Sierra into La Mancha, to- 

 morrow ?" 



" A bad exchange," replied Tobias, " but the virgin go with you." 



f( Tobias," said I, " we're in sad want of a mule ; you're a shrewd 

 man, and likely to know where one may be picked up cheap." 



' If you had asked me," said Tobias, " where one might be picked 

 up for nothing at all, the question would be easier answered." 



" Well, Tobias," said I, " suppose you were to answer that question." 



" Come, come," said Tobias, " don't be ashamed ; thou'rt a promising 

 lad ; ask my advice, and thou shalt have it. Dost thou hear the chink of 

 these duros ?" striking his hand upon his girdle ; " they were yesterday 

 at the disposal of a prebendary of Jaen ; to-day, they must obey Tobias. 

 You want a mule ; well, the superior of the Carmelites returns from 

 Baylen to-night ; not a friar in the province owns a better mule ; and 

 I'm mistaken, if his purse be not in as good condition." 



" No, no, SeFior Tobias," said I, " I'm a good Catholic ; and would 

 rather go without a mule, than be indebted to a friar for it." -.Tiji^rfc 



" And so am I a good Catholic," said Tobias, crossing himself; " but 

 if a horse will suit the purpose as well as a mule, I can spare thy con- 

 science, and fit thee to a tittle. Not ten minutes since, the young lord 

 of the Senorio, passed by on a choice Andalusian, with a guitar slung 

 behind him, I'll lay my life, to try what he can do with your pretty 

 sister Maraquita." 



" Thanks, many thanks, Tobias," said I, and the next moment I 

 was making the circuit of the village towards my father's house. I was 

 soon convinced of the shrewdness of Tobias' surmise, by hearing the 

 twang of the guitar, and by seeing a horse standing in the moonlight, at 

 a little distance ; and pulling a loaf out of my pocket, I took him gently 

 by the mane, and began leisurely to feed him. I had not been long 

 occupied in this way, when the caballero, having just made an end of a 

 canto amoroso, and perceiving that some one stood beside his horse, left 

 the spot where he was standing, and walked towards me. 



" Seuor," said he, " please to leave this neighbourhood ; it is unusual 

 to intrude upon a serenade ; and please also to leave alone this horse, 

 which is my property/' 



" Senor," said I, in return ; " the neighbourhood of your serenade 

 chances to be the neighbourhood of my house; and this horse I have 

 just made my own." 



" How, fellow 1" said he. 



" I am no jester," returned I, " you have just been serenading my 

 sister, and striving to please her ears with your guitar and canto amoroso. 

 Meanwhile, I have been serenading your horse in another fashion ; by 

 tickling his palate. The only difference is, that I have been more suc- 

 cessful than you ; Maraquita has paid no attention to your guitar and 

 fine sayings, but your horse has willingly listened to my importunities, 

 and has eaten a loaf of the finest bread in the province : if Maraquita 

 had listened to you, doubtless you would have made the "most of your 

 good fortune ; and in thus taking advantage of the docility of your 

 horse, I but act in the same way. Put up your guitar, Senor, and pass 

 on the other side, lest worse befall thee ;" and the young lord of the 

 Seuorio, perceiving my athletic figure arid determined air, and sup- 



