24 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS ARAGO. 
and we should soon have to succumb. Allow me to add, 
that the gratitude which I owe to you is your surest guar- 
antee.” 
“Very well, I will trust in your words; I shall regu- 
late my conduct by your answer. Tell me if I can 
travel at night? It is fatiguing to me to move from one 
station to another in the day under the burning influence 
of the sun.” 
“ You can do so, sir; I have already given my orders 
to this purpose ; they will not be infringed.” 
Some days afterwards, I left for Denia; it was mid- 
night, when some horsemen rode up to me, and addressed 
these words to me:— 
“Stop there, sefior; times are hard; those who have 
something must aid those who have nothing. Give us 
the keys of your trunks ; we will only take your super- 
fluities.” 
I had already obeyed their orders, when it came into 
my head to call out—“ But I have been told, that I could 
travel without risk.” 
“ What is your name, sir?” 
* Don Francisco Arago.” 
“Hombre! vaya usted con Dios (God be with 
you).” 
And our cavaliers, spurring away from us, rapidly lost 
themselves in a field of “ algarrobos.” 
When my friend the robber of Cullera assured me that 
I had nothing to fear from his subordinates, he informed 
me at the same time that his authority did not extend 
north of Valencia. The banditti of the northern part of 
the kingdom obeyed other chiefs; one of whom, after 
having been taken, was condemned and hung, and his 
body divided into four quarters, which ‘were fastened to 
