Pernales i977 
advantage, the pair paid a quiet social call on a well-to-do farmer 
of Morén, enjoyed a glass of wine with their trembling host, and 
then (having some fifteen minutes in hand) rode forward. Now 
comes a point. On arrival of the pursuers, that farmer (though 
not a word had been said) denied all knowledge of his new-gone 
guests. Pursuit was abandoned. 
For eight days the bandits lay low. Then Pernales presented 
himself at a farm in Ecija with a demand for £40, or in default 
the destruction of the live-stock. The bailiff (no farmer lives on 
his farm) despatched a messenger on his fleetest horse to bring 
in the ransom. As by the stipulated hour he had not returned, 
Pernales shot eight valuable mules! Riding thence to La 
Coronela, a farm belonging to Antonio Fuentes, the bull-fighter, 
a similar message was despatched. Pending its reply our outlaws 
feasted on the best; but instead of bank-notes, a force of Civil 
Guards appeared on the scene. That made no difference. The 
terrified farm-hands swore that the bandits had ridden off in a 
given direction, and while the misled police hurried away on a 
wild-goose chase, our heroes finished their feast, and late at 
night (having loaded up everything portable of value) departed 
for their lair in the sierra. 
During the next two months (May and June 1907) only 
minor outrages and robberies were committed, but that quiescence 
was enlivened by two feats that set out in relief the coolness and 
unflinching courage of these desperados. In May they moved to 
the neighbourhood of Cérdoba, and among other raids pulled off a 
good haul in bank-notes, cash, and other valuables at Lucena, an 
estate of D. Antonio Moscoso, following this up by a report in 
their ‘Inspired Press” that the brigands had at last fled north- 
wards with the view of embarking for abroad at Santander! A 
few days later, however (May 31), they had the effrontery to 
appear in Cédrdoba itself at the opening of the Fair, but, being 
early recognised, promptly rode off into the impending Sierra 
Moréna. On their heels followed the Civil Guard. Finding 
themselves overtaken, our friends faced round and opened fire, but 
the result was a defeat of the bandit gang. One, ‘“ El Nifio de la 
Gloria,” fell dead pierced by three bullets ; two other scoundrels— 
Reverte and Pepino—were captured wounded, while in the mélée 
the robbers abandoned four horses, a rifle, and a quantity of 
jewelry—the product of recent raids. Pernales himself and the 
N 
