The Robber's Affianced 



and a somewhat fierce expression, which from time to time 

 flickered about the corners of her mouth. 



She was sad now, mostly, for she was afraid something 

 had happened ; but now and then a thought would cross 

 her of her Pedro's having gone to visit a certain Conchita, 

 whom she usually mentioned by the uncomplimentary nick- 

 name "La Zorra" (the she-fox). She talked in a rambling 

 sort of way, everything that came in her head all the time 

 I was drawing her, and answered all the questions I put 

 with perfect freedom. It appeared that she had had a most 

 severe quarrel with Pedro the night before he had gone to 

 Alcald, and after it had dreamed he was dead. 



While I was colouring the portrait, there arose a sound 

 of voices outside, and drew nearer. The women were out 

 in a moment, and we followed. Four of the Guardia Civil, 

 with a horse, were surrounded by a crowd of men, women, 

 and children. All were eagerly pressing round and peeping 

 under the gay Valencian manta which covered the horse's 

 burden. We were just in time to see Rosita dash fran- 

 tically through the crowd, and tear off the manta. 



She shrieked with a more terrible cry than I heard in my 

 own bloody dream, and fell among the horse's feet. The 

 body of her lover was slung across the saddle, with its head 

 and feet dangling on either side. They had found and 

 recognised the body, and corded it over the horse's back ; 

 but the stifFarms and legs stuck out awkwardly ; and, indeed, 

 it was a very horrid sight. 



In the hurry and dismay of our host's establishment, we 

 disappeared unobserved, and as we had not been paid, we 

 thought it no robbery to carry away our drawings. 



We set off shortly for Arahal, and rode by an old con- 

 vent, through olive-groves, until we came to a bare, arid, 

 undulating plain. The road skirted the mountain range at 



131 J 



