1832.] Autobiography of Polinario, the Spanish Bandit 439 



you may find it, Sefior, but for my part, 'tis but seldom I hear the chink 

 of gold body of me but it's a pleasant sound." 



" In truth, Senor Bartolomeo," said I, "the sound as seldom tickles 

 my ears as yours. I'm no boaster, Senor, but I may make bold to say, 

 that with the advice and countenance of a man of your experience, 

 there's little Don Jose could have done that Polinario would fear to 

 encounter." 



" Give me thy hand, friend," said Bartolomeo, " I've found him again 

 then, and old days are coming back." 



I am unable to recollect the particulars of the conversation that fol- 

 lowed, and which was such as might be expected from one of Bartolo- 

 meo's experience. The conclusion, however, was nearly this : " Don 

 Jose," said he, " committed one error ; he had comrades, and one of the 

 number betrayed him : take my advice, and act for yourself- no com- 

 rades in your exploits, and only one accomplice to secure the booty 

 boldness, Senor, only boldness is required on your part ; the fear of a 

 name is better than half a dozen comrades." In my after life I acted 

 strictly upon this advice, and found truly, that the fear of my name did 

 as much for me as my gun and cutlas. 



The exploit with which it was ordained that I should commence my 

 career, was not one of extreme difficulty ; Bartolomeo informed me, that 

 a messenger had arrived that morning, to bespeak supper for three canons, 

 travelling from Cordova to Toledo: " they travel in their coach," said 

 Bartolomeo ; " and some years having now passed since- Don Jose has 

 been heard of hereabouts, they travel without any escort, 'tis but stroll- 

 ing up the mountain road, and waiting their approach the rest follows 

 of course." 



It was just falling dusk when I quitted the Venta de Cardeno, and as 

 I slowly walked up the winding road, I considered, for the last time, 

 the course upon which I had entered. I had no difficulty in resolving, 

 that it was better each of the three canons should be a purse the lighter, 

 than that my father and I should be compelled to live upon bread and 

 garlic; my only cause of hesitation was the necessity of confession, 

 which I had never omitted, and the probability that the priest might 

 exact as the price of absolution, a promise to change my manner of life. 

 In this first exploit, however, I resolved to obtain absolution from the 

 canons. It was nearly dark when I reached that turn on the road where 

 there is a small low ruined wall, which has for the last twelve years 

 been known under the name of Polinario's Seat, because it was there I 

 was afterwards accustomed to sit down, and wait the approach of tra- 

 vellers. It is well adapted for the purpose ; for neither in going up or 

 down the Sierra can this wall be seen, till one be within twenty yards 

 of it ; and, although in all my exploits I ever calculated upon success, 

 yet, in the event of failure, this spot was the most judicious that could 

 have been selected, for just there a deep dell runs into the wildest parts 

 of the Sierra ; and I may say, without undue vanity, that, having once 

 cleared the wall, nothing but a lead bullet could overtake me. Once 

 only I have had occasion to resort to this escape, three, or it might be 

 four years before I left off' the life of a robber. I had resolved to rifle 

 the Seville mail, and, sitting on this wall as usual, challenged it as it 

 came up. It chanced, however, to be laden with pines for the royal 

 table, sent as a compliment by the governor of Ceuta ; and in place of 

 finding only three guards to oppose me, out jumped three other troopers, 



