Pernales 179 



from farmers and landowners. These exploits, together with an 

 odd murder or two, spread consternation throughout the new 

 area, and in all Puente-Genil, Pernales and the Nino de Arahal 

 became a standing nightmare. So soon as checked here by the 

 police, the robbers once more moved west, again " inspiring " 

 the press with reports of a foreign destination — this time via 

 Cd-diz. A few days later, Malaga was named as their intended 

 exit. Yet on July 16 they were to the north of Seville, and 

 had another rifle-duel with the Guards, again escaping scatheless 

 at a gallop. 



Persecution was now so keen that the wilds of the Sierra 

 Mor6na afibrded their only possible hope, and by holding the 

 highest passes the outlaws reached this refuge, being next reported 

 at Venta de Cardenas, 160 miles north of Cordoba. A cordon of 

 police was now drawn along the whole fringe of the sierra from 

 Vizco del Marquez to Despenaperros. The position of the hunted 

 couple became daily more precarious, their scope of activity more 

 restricted, and robberies reduced to insignificant proportions. 

 Nevertheless, on July 22, with consummate audacity and dash, 

 they raided the farm of Recena belonging to D. Tomas Herrera, 

 carrying ofi' a sum of £160, with which they remained content 

 till August 18, when they attacked the two farms of Vencesla 

 and Los Villares, but, being repulsed, fled northwards towards 

 Ciudad Real. On September 1 they entered the province of 

 La Mancha, apparently seeking shelter in the deep defiles of 

 the Sierra de Alcaraz, for that morning a Manchegan wood- 

 cutter was accosted by two mounted wayfarers who inquired 

 the best track to Alcaraz, The woodman innocently gave 

 directions which, if exactly followed, would much shorten the 

 route. While thanking his informant, Pernales — apparently out 

 of sheer bravado — revealed his identity, introducing himself to 

 the astonished woodcutter as the Fury who was keeping all 

 authority on the jump and the country-side ablaze. Straightway 

 the man of the axe made for the nearest guard-station, and a 

 captain with six mounted police, reinforced by peasants, followed 

 the trail. As dusk fell the pursuers perceived two horses tethered 

 in a densely wooded dell, while hard by their owners sat eating 

 and drinking — the latter imprudence perhaps explaining why the 

 brigands were at last caught napping. To the challenge " Alto 

 it la Guardia Civil ! " came the usual prompt response — the 



