504 ANDALUSIAN SKETCHES. 



themselves by the sale of vegetables, raised on a small spot which they 

 have cleared around their dwelling. By dint of hard labour old 

 Manuel had at length saved sufficient to purchase a borico on which 

 he could carry his produce to your Gibraltar market, and thus ob- 

 tain a better price. Well to return to the nacionales a couple of 

 stragglers from the detachment, a corporal and a private, following at 

 a distance in the rear, strayed off the road, and came upon Manuel's 

 hut. They insolently demanded refreshment, and such as could be 

 procured they obtained ; then, seeing the ass, they claimed the 

 animal for the service of the pueblo sobrano (the sovereign people.) 

 In vain the old man and woman implored the pity of these robbers. 

 The pad was strapped on the sleek beast, their knapsacks and fire- 

 locks secured upon it, and their prize led off amidst the tears and la- 

 mentations of the aged couple. But the daughter, Francesca, was 

 not idle. During the parley, the chiqutia (little girl) had scampered 

 with breathless haste to the mill, found me here, and made me ac- 

 quainted with what had occurred. My gun, always ready loaded, 

 was soon on my shoulder. I struck across a path where I knew I 

 must have a good chance of falling in with the thieves. Sure enough 

 I saw them advancing as I stood reconnoitering from behind a large 

 quejigo (oak-tree) on the road-side. The corporal was sitting on the 

 ass, which was urged onward by his comrade following on foot, 

 armed only with a long stick, which he applied without remorse to 

 the flanks of the unwilling beast. They were singing together a 

 constitutional song, the burthen of which was ' Mueren los Negros,' 

 ' Death to the Blacks,' as they called us loyal men. I never miss my 

 aim. I levelled at the corporal, and he fell, a dead man ! The 

 borico stood still, and the astounded private fled into the opposite 

 thicket ere I could reload. I did not consider it necessary to follow 

 him. I threw off the animal's back the baggage of the soldiers, and 

 led the bariquillo to his delighted owners. 



" This matter was talked about for a while, but none thought it of 

 sufficient consequence to interfere with me. I had only killed one of 

 the tools of the detested Cortes, and there are few ' afrancesados' in 

 this district. What do you think of these affairs ? " 



This was a delicate question. I was released from the necessity of 

 answering by the impatient neighing of my horse, anxious to quit 

 his present quarters. I took leave, but not before my host had ut- 

 tered repeated invitations to me to refresh myself as often as I might 

 feel disposed to call at the " Molino del Conde," for so his mill is 

 named. 



" I will tell you on some future occasion/' said he, " of the other 

 muerios (deaths) in which I have unluckily been concerned, and of 

 which, perhaps, you have heard false tales. You will not find the 

 devil so black as he is painted." 



Although I could not but feel that Pepe Romero was a cold-blooded 

 villain one reckless of shedding blood, yet, I confess, I was anxious 

 to hear from his own lips some further particulars of the causes 

 which led him to commit the numerous murders attributed to him by 

 common report. I, therefore, shouldered my double-barrelled Man- 

 ton, and followed by my two faithful pointers " Grouse" and " Pan," 



