106 



THE MONTENEROS. 



" Because/^ he replied, " we took you for 

 robbers/' 



Take us for robbers, indeed ! We are the 

 Presidents troops. Come, give us your money 

 and your clothes/^ At the same time he pre- 

 sented his blunderbuss. Another actually 

 snapped his gun three times in the consuFs 

 face, but luckily produced no fire. In spite of 

 all expostulation, these gentlemen were roughly 

 stripped to the skin, and with great difficulty 

 obtained, in exchange for their good hats, one 

 of the shabby sombreros worn by the thieves ; 

 their trousers, one pair of shoes, and a handker- 

 chief were restored to them. After this there 

 was a warm debate among the brigands, whe- 

 ther it would not be better at once to murder 

 them. During this very interesting discussion, 

 the unhappy gentlemen forgot awhile their 

 nakedness, and contrived to escape on foot,* 

 * The following expressions, used by the brigands at 



