118 WILD SPAIN. 



and an iron will, that one cannot but admire. Men of 

 this calibre appear but at intervals ; for " nature is 

 chary in the production of such specimens of dangerous 

 grandeur." Such a man was Jose Maria ; and of late 

 years a fine example has been afforded by the notorious 

 outlaw, Vizco el Borje, of whose methods of procedure the 

 following incident, as narrated to us almost in the words 

 of its principal victim, will serve to give a good idea. 



At the little mountain-village of Zahrita it is the 

 custom to celebrate the annual festival of its patron saint, 

 San Antonio, by an amateur bull-fight, a performance at 

 which the smartest of the young bloods of the village take 

 the principal parts. For many years it had been the habit 

 of the owner of the neighbouring pasturages to provide the 

 bulls for this annual function free of charge ; and on the 

 eve of the festival the son of the well-to-do proprietor, Don 

 Pedro de M , was, with his steward Diego, and a herds- 

 man, engaged in selecting some of the most fiery and 

 active young bulls. Both were dismounted, and, rein in 

 hand, were walking round the herd, when they were 

 suddenly arrested by a sharp summons to halt and 

 surrender. Then, turning round, they found themselves 

 face to face with the muzzles of three levelled guns bear- 

 ing upon them — the three mounted men having stolen up 

 behind and taken them unawares. Besistance under such 

 circumstances was out of the question. The guns of both 

 Pedro and his servant hung in their saddle- slings, but any 

 movement in that direction would have brought instant fire 

 upon them. Before they had well recovered from their 

 surprise, one of the brigands coolly dismounted and took 

 possession of both their guns, the other pair meanwhile 

 each keeping his man well " covered." The unlucky Pedro 

 was now completely at the mercy of his aggressors. At 

 the order of one of these, evidently the chief, the prisoners 

 remounted and followed his lead, the others closing in 

 behind, and precluding all chance of escape, except at the 

 risk — or certainty — of being shot down. The guide took a 

 line leading towards the higher sierra, and avoiding the 

 frequented track. Arrived in a densely close thicket, the 



