CHAPTER XIV.

BLAS EL GUERRILLERO--_continued_.

The worthy Señor Blas having quaffed a bumper of _Xeres seco_, by way of drowning his sorrow, thus continued his story:--

I fell senseless on the mangled corpse of my beloved Fernando. How long I remained in this state I know not, but I was aroused by the jeers of some French soldiers, who, tearing me rudely from the now cold body of my son, asked if I had fairly earned my compatriot's epaulettes; at the same time very unceremoniously transferring them from my sash, into which I had hastily thrust them, to their own havre-sacks.

I offered no resistance; but, when they were about to rob me as unceremoniously of the chain and locket, proofs of my son's identity, which my damp and blood-stained hand yet held in its convulsive grasp, I checked their insolence by a look at my gory knife, taking at the same time from my breast, and throwing towards them, the _carte de protection_ of their general. They passed on, carrying off the epaulettes, and laughing at and mimicking the grief and anger depicted in my countenance.

I was again awakened to a sense of my misfortunes. At first I tried to fancy it was all a dream; then, that I might still be mistaken in the locket of my departed Alitéa; but a pocketbook, which, on further search, I discovered on the person of my ill-fated son, established the appalling fact, beyond the possibility of doubt.

I hastily dug a grave for my boy, but, ere returning the corse to its native clay, I vowed to revenge his death upon the heartless foreigners, who, having led me to commit this crime, and brought a dying curse upon my head, had scoffed at my grief and misery. I accordingly took the first opportunity of quitting the French army, and falling in with a gang of lawless freebooters, who, under the pretext of fighting the enemies of their country, robbed and plundered indiscriminately friend and foe, I enlisted, a willing recruit, into the _quadrilla_.[183]

In the matter of plunder, I believe that the _best_ of the _guerrilla_ bands, which now began to be formed throughout the country, were as little scrupulous as that of which I became a member, though they had not the honesty to admit it. Many, certainly, were the acts of atrocity committed by our band. We scoured the whole of Old Castile and Leon, levying contributions wherever we moved; we hung upon the flank of the English army in its retreat to Coruña, filling our pockets with doubloons, and our pouches with ammunition; we slaughtered any luckless, wearied, or wounded French straggler that came across our path, but sought not for opportunities of exchanging shots with our invaders.

In this latter respect, the plan of our leader was too timid for me, and I sometimes managed to join the red-coats in a skirmish with the common enemy. On one of these occasions my life was saved by one of your countrymen. From that day I have known how to value an Englishman, and have never neglected an opportunity of evincing my gratitude to the fellow-countrymen of my brave deliverer.

I had straggled away from our _quadrilla_, accompanied by two of my comrades, to take part in a skirmish which was going on at the passage of a small river, between the rear-guard of the English and their pursuing enemies. The object in view was, of course, merely to retard the advance of the French; since your army was in full retreat; and just as the signal was given for the skirmishers to retire, I received a carbine ball in my thigh which unhorsed me. My frightened charger galloped off, as did also my two companions, leaving me to the tender mercies of the advancing enemy. One of your countrymen happened, however, to look round, and seeing me doomed to destruction, though doing my best to hobble off, rode back amidst a shower of bullets to render me assistance. "John," said he, "you're a brave fellow; give me your hand and jump up behind me." I did the first part of his bidding; but whilst in the act of climbing up in obedience to the second, a shot disabled his left arm. The gallant lad immediately seized me with his right hand, by the help of which I scrambled on his horse's back, when another shot brought him to the ground. Poor fellow! one groan alone escaped him. I was obliged to fly, but did not do so until I had convinced myself that his life was extinct.

My own wound was but slight; and soon after this affair, thinking your army had thrown away all its treasure, we betook ourselves to the mountains of Asturias, returning along the northern coast of Spain into Navarre, and thence into Catalonia, where we commenced a more decided guerrilla warfare against the enemy; embracing every opportunity of attacking him when _profit_ was to be gained without much risk.

I soon distinguished myself above the rest of the quadrilla by my daring and unscrupulousness; and my influence, particularly amongst the most reckless of the band, increased daily; so great, indeed, did it become, that the chief and his chosen associates regarded me with extreme jealousy. I was always urging them to leave the north of Spain, where we had numerous competitors in the field, and proceed to the less devastated province of Andalusia; for I longed for the opportunity of settling my outstanding accounts with divers priests, _alcaldes_, _hidalgos_, and others, for various little acts of _kindness_, shown me during my contrabandista career; and I was anxious also to pay off a debt of more serious amount, due to Don Benito; to explain which I must go back a little in my story.

The pocket-book which I had found on the person of my unfortunate Fernando contained several letters addressed to him by Don Benito, from which, together with information they led me to seek by making a short visit to Madrid, I learnt that my son had been removed from the care of _Tia_ Dorotea, very soon after my transportation to Ceuta. About the same period, it appeared, Don Benito had been suddenly called to Madrid, from whence he had been sent as _Corregidor_ to some town in Galicia.

None of the various letters I wrote to my boy had been permitted to meet his eye; and to his anxious inquiries after the fate of his convict father, answer was made, that I had fallen a sacrifice to the unhealthy climate of Africa.

On his removal from Olbera, Fernando had at once been sent to Salamanca for his education, and was yet studying at the celebrated university of that city, when the French invasion called the country to arms. With the enthusiasm natural to youth, he burned to join the ranks of the _Patriots_--as the ill-organized, worse directed, and in too many cases shamefully betrayed bands of peasantry were called--and Don Benito, whom it appeared had conceived a tardy affection for his grandson, had long combated this desire. After vainly attempting, however, to turn him from his purpose; and fearful, probably, by prolonged opposition, of being himself denounced as an _Afrancesado_, he at length acceded to Fernando's wishes, and procured for him a commission in a regiment of cavalry, where he thought he would be less exposed to fatigue and hardships than as a foot-soldier.

My gallant boy, as appeared as well by the letters found upon him, as by a decoration at his breast, had already distinguished himself in the field, when fate directed a father's hand to close his promising career.

Don Benito, I further learned, overwhelmed with grief by the death of his grandson, had retired from Madrid to his native town. There, clothed with power, I longed to beard him in his fancied security; to tell him that his vile deceit had caused a son to raise his arm against a father--had caused that father, in ignorance, to become the murderer of his son; to tell him, in fine, that all his property, his ill-gotten property--his life even--was at my disposal, to take and destroy as I thought fit. To accomplish this was now the ruling desire within my breast; my country's wrongs were but the pretence for acquiring power amongst my companions.

Esteban, the leader of our _quadrilla_, was an overbearing, avaricious, craven-hearted Catalan, who, fearful of venturing far from his own mountain retreats, resolutely and effectually opposed my project of making a dash at Andalusia. As a first step towards effecting my purpose, therefore, it became necessary to dispose of him.

I have before stated that I had many friends in the troop, and by an assumed generosity,--my share of plunder, unless consisting of arms, horses, &c., being generally left to be divided amongst my comrades,--I gradually succeeded in increasing the number of my adherents; thus paving the way for becoming, one day, the leader of the band. In this I but adopted the maxim of my favourite _Guzman de Alfarache_, who says, "_ganar amigos es dar dinero a logro y sembrar en regadio_."[184] I valued wealth, however, only as the means of obtaining _power_; and at that moment, to give money was to gain friends, and to gain friends, to attain power.

The friends I gained were very uncertain ones, it may be said. They were such, nevertheless, as I could depend upon whilst fortune favoured me; and what is friendship after all? a flimsy veil thrown over the double face of mutual interest, which the slightest breath of adversity blows aside! a mere footstep to the seat of power, which is trodden upon the moment that seat is gained! Friendship! I have never in my eventful life known it last when once the bond of interest was broken!

Strong, however, as my party had become, by the means I have stated, it was not yet sufficiently so to warrant my coming to an open rupture with Esteban, even had that been advisable. On the contrary, as the band consisted principally of his countrymen, whose services I did not wish to lose, it was desirable, in the step I meditated taking, to avoid even the _suspicion_ of treachery. With this view, I arranged a plan with three of my most faithful supporters, which was crowned with complete success.

Esteban had obtained information, that, on a certain day, a convoy, conveying treasure and ammunition for the use of the French division employed at the siege of Gerona, would be sent from Figueras. The escort, on account of the value of the convoy, would of course be strong; but the avarice of our chief serving as a fillip to his courage, we succeeded in persuading him to make an attempt to capture it. Taking post, therefore, in a deep ravine, situated in the heart of a forest through which the enemy must necessarily pass, a council was called to consider the best mode of making the attack. Contrary to my usual custom, I recommended the adoption of the most cautious proceedings. I hinted that we must have been misinformed respecting the strength of the escort; as, doubtless, so enormous a sum as that the enemy was sending would be protected by a very strong body of troops. In fact, whilst feeding Esteban's cupidity, I succeeded so completely in frightening him, that he asked me to propose a plan for the attack.

I readily acquiesced; and my project meeting with unanimous approval, was immediately acted upon. It was as follows. Two thirds of our force were concealed in a hollow some distance from and to the right of the road, beyond the pass. Their horses were muzzled to prevent detection by their neighing, but were provided with slip knots to release them at a moment's notice. The rest of the troop took post on foot on the left side of the defilé, immediately over the road, three of the men retiring some distance into the forest with the horses of this party, and keeping them ready to bring up to the spot at the concerted signal.

The first party was placed under the command of the lieutenant of the troop, the bosom friend of Esteban, who, screening his men carefully from observation, was to allow the enemy's advanced guard to pass unmolested until it had gained a comparatively open space clear of the ravine, and then to charge it _à cierra ojos_,[185] for the purpose of drawing to its support the main body of the escort, and so leave the mules with the treasure but slightly protected. This done, he was to retire, or not, according to circumstances.

Meanwhile, Esteban concealed himself in the thick foliage of an evergreen oak that grew on the summit of an isolated crag, which, standing out from the bank of the hollow way, protruded into and commanded a perfect view of the road. From this elevated spot he was (should he deem it advisable) to make the signal for a general attack by liberating a huge eagle, which we always kept for this purpose; a signal that, instead of exciting suspicion, we found rather tended to throw the enemy off his guard. Our rendezvous was given for the night at a village some ten miles from the scene of action.

As much of the detail of these arrangements had been left (out of compliment) to me, I had no difficulty in selecting the _three men_ who were to take charge of the horses of the dismounted party. As to myself, to avoid suspicion, I volunteered joining the lieutenant's division, which was likely to have the warmest work.

Every thing happened as I expected, if not altogether as I could have wished; for the treasure was too well guarded to give us any chance of attacking the escort with success. The enemy also advanced with great caution; halted at the entrance of the pass, sent forward a cavalry piquet to reconnoitre the road in advance, and detached infantry _en eclaireurs_ up both banks of the hollow way. Having taken these precautions, and closed up the train, they renewed their march.

Our scout gave timely notice of what was passing. We unmuzzled our steeds, whose impatient neighing gave the enemy the first notice of our vicinity, and that we had thrown ourselves between their main body and somewhat compromised advanced guard. Our charge was like the swoop of an eagle upon his prey, whilst the enemy's hurried notes of recall resounded through the forest like the screams of a flight of terrified plover. But the order for their return arrived too late. We fell upon them ere they had time to make any disposition to receive our unlooked for rear-attack, and sabred them to a man.

Whilst this was going forward, some slight confusion manifested itself in the enemy's main body, but the commandant quickly restored order. Sending forward all his horsemen to secure the head of the ravine, and rally, as he hoped, his advanced guard, he reinforced his rear guard with infantry, and then, recalling his tirailleurs to the edge of the defilé, pushed on as quickly as possible to get through the pass, and gain a field where discipline would resume its advantage over numbers.

The party with which I served was again drawn up, anxiously waiting for the signal to renew the attack. We watched in vain, however, for the rising of the bird of Jove. We heard a few scattered shots, which our lieutenant very justly observed augured no good, and saw a formidable body of cavalry deploying rapidly at the issue of the ravine, and preparing to charge us. It was evident, therefore, that Esteban deemed it hopeless to attack, and that it was high time for us to be off. Indeed, had we been briskly attacked, the half of our party would most certainly have been captured, but the good face we put upon it probably led the enemy to suppose we were well supported, and they contented themselves with firing a volley, as, putting spurs to our horses, we dispersed in all directions.

On reassembling at the appointed rendezvous, the only person missing was Esteban. As soon as prudence admitted, we returned to the late scene of action to make search for our absent chieftain, and found his body lying in the hollow way, but so hacked and disfigured as to render it impossible to tell what had been the manner of his death. It was the general opinion, therefore, since the shots we had heard could in no other way be accounted for, that the enemy's tirailleurs must have discovered him in the tree, and that the Frenchmen, enraged at their severe loss, had thus cruelly mutilated him.

I did not attempt to combat this opinion, and the three men who had _charge of the horses_ were quite silent in the matter, though they could, perhaps, have told a different tale.

I see, _Caballeros_, that you are shocked at the little hesitation I showed in taking this caitiff's life; but I can assure you no scruples of conscience troubled me in the matter, for I had previously learnt that the cowardly rascal had engaged the very men to shoot me, whom I employed to perform that kind action towards him.

Esteban's death being thus placed beyond a doubt, it became necessary to elect a new leader. Rodriguez (the lieutenant) and myself were the only two competitors. I had, as I have already stated, many supporters in the band; and some money which, no matter how, came at this time into my possession, was liberally distributed to increase the number; but, nevertheless, the Catalans and Biscayans, of whom the _quadrilla_ principally consisted, could not be brought over to my side, and Rodriguez was preferred by a majority of votes. A separation was loudly advocated by my friends; but to this, with affected humility, I refused to listen. "No," said I, "we are all one family; let us not weaken our strength by dissension. For my own part, I have no wish to command, and will willingly yield obedience to Rodriguez."

The bait took; my friends stood out for a separation; and the supporters of my competitor, charmed by my moderation, proposed (as a division would probably lead to the destruction of both parties) that Rodriguez and I should command alternately. This proposal was adopted with general acclamation, for, whilst the Catalans acknowledged my superior talents for command in the field, they thought the counsel of a Nestor like Rodriguez would temper with prudence my somewhat venturesome projects; besides which, he was better acquainted with the country where they wished to act.

I knew that my coadjutor, though a brave old man, possessed no one other quality to fit him for the leader of a band of guerrillas, who should be decisive as well as courageous, full of resources as well as cautious, and whose eye should be quick to turn ground to the best advantage, as well as to acknowledge it as an old acquaintance. In order, therefore, to let the band see his incompetency, and that he might become convinced of it himself, I gave in to all his plans, without offering an objection, and so effectually succeeded in my own, that, after experiencing several severe checks, and reducing our _military chest_ to a very small _box_, it became the general wish to change the scene of operations, and proceed to a less devastated, and, consequently, less protected country.

It was accordingly determined to make an experimental excursion into the kingdom of Valencia, with which, whilst following the _contraband_ life, I had become well acquainted.

Our _debût_ was most successful, for so unprepared was the enemy for our sudden irruption that we captured a rich convoy under the very walls[186] of the capital city, without the loss of a man. But a large force being immediately despatched in pursuit, I (happening to be in command for the day) directed the retreat upon Murcia, thereby enabling the enemy to prevent our return to Catalonia.

This was a hazardous step, for the country to the north was not of a nature to afford us either shelter or resources; whilst, to the south, all the towns between us and the sea were occupied by French garrisons, which, if we were not quick in our movements, or happened to meet with any check, might easily cut short our further advance, and oblige us to disperse.

To hesitate under these circumstances was to be lost; so, pushing on _à cierra ojos_, we hardly drew rein until we had passed Guadix, when the vicinity of the impracticable Alpujarra mountains secured us from attack on the left, and, at the same time, assured us a safe retreat in the event of being hard pressed. The enemy, however, seeing that further pursuit would be unavailing, stopped short at Guadix; and, embracing the opportunity of giving our wearied horses a few days' rest, we established ourselves at the Fuente de la Gitana, the principal sources of the little river Fardes, which, winding through a sequestered dell, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, is bordered with the richest pasturage. The spot thus selected for our bivouac held out also the advantage of enabling us to watch the high road from Guadix to Granada, one of the principal lines of communication of the French army.

Whilst refreshing our horses in this secluded spot, numerous opportunities of attacking the enemy presented themselves. But without a certain prospect of obtaining booty, we were not to be tempted to give the alarm by showing ourselves. Allowing, therefore, various parties to pass to and fro without molestation, we succeeded in leading the enemy to believe that we had crossed the sierra, and thrown ourselves upon the stores of arms and gunpowder in the mining district of Adra.

No sooner were their fears allayed, and confidence restored, than we seized the favourable occasion to pounce upon them. This was afforded us by the march of a convoy, with provisions and money, from Guadix to Granada. As soon as we had received certain advice of its having left the first named city, and reached Diezma (its first day's march), we broke up our camp, and, riding all night, took post in the Sierra Jarana, where we commanded both the roads which, from Diezma, are directed on Granada.

The enemy, wishing to keep as far as possible from the Sierra Nevada, chose the upper or northern road, which was by far the most favourable for our project, there being a difficult pass to get through, which must unavoidably oblige a convoy to lengthen out and straggle. We accordingly permitted the greater portion of the loaded animals to pass unmolested, and then, falling suddenly upon the rear division, succeeded in capturing and carrying off no less than thirty mules.

We did not, however, escape without loss; for Rodriguez was left dead upon the field, and several of the band were severely wounded. I drew the party off by a rugged pathway that leads round the sources of the Darro; crossed the Genil below Guejar; and, by a rapid march, gained Huelma that same night, ere the news of our exploit had well reached Granada.

We had now got upon the high road from Granada to Alhama, and, proceeding along it for some miles, struck off to the left, and established our bivouac in a wooded sierra, above the village of Agron, from whence we commanded both the great road we had left, and that from Granada to Almuñecar and Motril.

Having eluded all pursuit, and gained a point which, whilst it favoured our future operations, was in the vicinity of some of the most intricate mountain country in Andalusia, but with which I was thoroughly acquainted; I determined, if possible, to obtain possession of the French governor of Granada's despatches to his subordinates commanding the towns upon the sea-coast, with the view of ascertaining how his forces were distributed, their strength, &c., as well as the steps he purposed taking to interrupt or pursue my band.

Appointing, therefore, one of my most devoted adherents to the command of the troop during my absence, I doffed my old contrabandista dress, and, accompanied by one only of my men, proceeded to the ventas de Huelma, where I understood the French orderlies were in the habit of baiting their horses for half an hour when journeying to and from Alhama.

The place consists only of two wretched _ventas_, and half a dozen _ranchas_. We reached it about mid-day, and, as luck would have it, just in time to see two French Dragoons ride in at the door of one of the inns. After waiting a few minutes to make sure that they had not merely called for their _goutte_, we also rode up to the venta, and alighted at the portal, and, securing our horses to the stakes in the wall, entered, as the saying is, _santamente en la casa_.[187]

The inn was crowded with people, and the two Frenchmen, having given their horses a feed of barley, were holding forth to the _arrieros_ and villagers grouped round them; who, with eager, though silent, interest, were listening to their discourse. Our _Ave Maria purissima_ hardly attracted notice, an old crone, seated in the chimney corner at her spindle, being the only person to mumble in return the usual "_sin pecado concebida_."[188] Addressing myself to the _ventero_, I begged he would furnish me with a slice of bread, some oil, vinegar, and the other ingredients requisite for making a _gazpacho_.

"_Caramba!_" exclaimed my host, looking inquisitively at me, "these are not the cooling _alimentos_ Blas Maldonado used formerly to ask for!"

"They are _not_, good Pacheco," said I, finding that the number of years which had elapsed since our last meeting had not prevented his recognizing me,--"They are not, good Pacheco; but as the proverb says,

"'_Ajo crudo y vino puro_ _hacen andar al mozo seguro._'"[189]

And I gave a significant glance at the Frenchmen.

"Is it so!" replied he; "then to answer you with another proverb--'_à perro viejo no has tus tus_'[190]--how can I serve you?"

"Tell me first," said I, "do you know those _gavachos_?"[191]

"I do; they have stopped here several times to bait their horses on the way backwards and forwards to Alhama; but they are likely to send their despatches under a more numerous escort for the future, if the news be true that a band of _guerrillas_ has made its appearance close to Granada; though they have, as _they_ say, cut it to pieces. But let us draw near, and hear their story--of which I had only caught a few words when you called me away."

"I can probably give you a better account of it than _they_," said I; "therefore, tell me first what sort of men are they? Think you a couple of resolute fellows could master them readily?"

"For the matter of that," replied Pacheco, "the _Cabo_ is, I suspect, a determined dog; but the young fellow, who accompanies him, seems, like most of his countrymen, to have _mas viento que fuego_[192] about him."

"Do they smoke?"

"Like two _Carboneras_."[193]

"That will do; now let us go and hear what the braggarts have to say;" and, drawing my _Capa_ round so as to conceal the lower part of my face, I joined the circle of _gobemouches_.

The younger of the two Frenchmen, with much gesticulation, and in very bad Spanish, was giving an account of the action between my band and his countrymen. It was well I had been there, otherwise, I certainly should never have recognized it for the same affair; since he maintained that we had been completely worsted--our chief and upwards of half the band left dead upon the field, and the remainder dispersed in all directions!

"Were no prisoners made?" said I--having first ascertained by a glance all round that no old acquaintances were in the group of listeners.

"Prisoners, _mon brave_," replied he; "_pas un seul_--_Sacristie_! we speared them like wild boars, without giving them time to translate _quartel_[194] into French."

"You have prudently taken care to have ready the Spanish translation of the French," I observed.--"And so you were yourself in the _melée_, then?"

"_Je le crois bien! Sacrebleu!_" said the boaster, regardless of the signs of his corporal to be less communicative, "I believe you! _Sacrebleu!_ I, myself, spitted half a score of the _sacré gueux_, and I think I should know the rest of the _canaille_ by their backs, if ever my eyes lighted upon them again; for I pressed them hard enough; but my horse was too tired to overtake them all."

"_A quien tanto ve, con un ojo le basta_,"[195] said I, adding, lest the laugh my sarcasm had caused amongst my countrymen should excite the corporal's suspicions, "however, I am glad you have given so good an account of the scoundrels, and hope any other factious bands that may attempt to disturb the tranquillity of our province may be similarly dealt with. You must, however, I fear, be ill provided with cavalry, since you have been so soon sent again on duty after such sharp service?"

"Why, we are rather short of cavalry, no doubt," continued the loquacious _gascon_; "but, I rather think, our despatches contain an order for such as can be spared from Malaga to be sent to join us at Granada; and then we shall serve them out in good style."

"Why, I thought you had dispersed them altogether?" said I.

"_Allons, allons!_" cried the corporal to his companion, "_à cheval!_" adding, in the same language, which, doubtless, he conceived none of us understood--"I like not that inquisitive _embossé_--what the d--l makes you so communicative?"

"Communicative!" exclaimed the young dragoon; "why you know I have not told them a word of truth, excepting about the order for the cavalry to come and join us; and the sooner that piece of news is spread through the country the better."

My attendant had not been an idle listener to the conversation I have just narrated; but, having glided unobserved amongst the horses, had quietly occupied himself in taking a fore shoe off the foot of one of the dragoons' chargers. He now joined the circle, making me a sign that all was right, and whispering a few words in the ear of the landlord, whilst, despatching our _gazpacho fresco_, we mounted our horses and rode off toward Alhama.

Before we had proceeded a mile, the two Frenchmen overtook us, and were about to pass on at a brisk trot, when I called out that one of their horses had thrown a shoe. It was that of the corporal. He dismounted, and, after sundry _sacrés_, proposed to his companion that they should return to the _venta_ for a smith. I said, if they had a spare shoe, I could furnish them with a hammer and nails, which would, possibly, save time. My offer was thankfully accepted, and the dragoon, dismounting and placing himself between the two horses, so as to hold both their heads, the corporal forthwith proceeded to work.

I waited, of course, to receive back my hammer, and, to pass the time, struck a light and commenced smoking. "_Gasta usted tabaco?_"[196] asked I, addressing myself to the young dragoon, presenting him at the same time with a Frenchified looking cigar with a straw inserted at one end.

"Volontiers," said he, taking it and a piece of burning _yesca_,[197] that I offered him on the flat side of my flint.--"_Volontiers!_ I am a true dragoon."

In receiving the flint back, I purposely let it fall, and, begging he would not trouble himself, dismounted to pick it up, drawing near to the corporal, as if to see how he got on with his work. My companion now, also, alighted to tighten the girths of his saddle, and, at the instant, an explosion took place, the young dragoon was thrown on his back, and the two horses, disengaged from his hold, started off in a fright, pitching the corporal forward on his head. I instantly pinned him to the earth with my knee, and plunged my knife into his neck; whilst my comrade despatched the young dragoon--asking him how it was he had not recognized us by our _backs_, and what he thought of _un cigarro bomba_.[198]

We secured the despatches and horses, and made off for our bivouac with all speed. On our arrival, I found the band at _Toros y cañas_;[199] the followers of my late coadjutor, Rodriguez, insisting that another captain should be joined with me in the command.

Having had sufficient experience of the inconveniences attending this divided form of government, and being now so situated as to insist on having my own way, I determined to cut the matter very short, exclaiming "_à otro perro con ese hueso!_"[200] "Let those who choose turn back, and God be with them! and I think--judging from the despatches that have this day fallen into my hands--they will stand in great need of his protection! Those who prefer following my fortunes shall obey no orders but mine."

Alarmed at what I had hinted about the despatches, all but the _aspirant_ to the joint dictatorship and two of his relatives, joined my standard. These three _desgraciados_ determined to leave the band. In vain I pointed out the danger of such a proceeding--the impossibility of their making their way across a country with which they were unacquainted, and that was now beset with enemies. They, sneeringly, replied that the same road they had followed in coming would conduct them back. This, however, for a reason which I shall hereafter explain, I determined that it should _not_ do.

Detaining them, therefore, until the morrow, on the plea of receiving their due proportion of the booty we had made, I despatched a trusty messenger to Granada, who, presenting himself to the French governor, informed him that the greater part of my troop had passed close under the walls of Alhama, directing its march towards Velez, after having killed the two dragoons bearing his despatches to the commandant of that town; but adding, that he had heard, on very good authority, a detachment of three men, conveying important communications from me, was to return, on the following day, into the eastern provinces of the kingdom, and that he had come to offer himself as a guide, to intercept the party.

On the following morning, our seceders took their departure, having, I may truly say, "_el despeñadero a los ojos, y lobos à las espaldas_."[201] The next day my messenger returned, and informed me of the result of his mission, giving out, however, that he had obtained intelligence that a valuable convoy was about to proceed immediately from Granada to Motril. The temptation was irresistible, and a rapid counter-march on Alhendin was determined on that very night.

We reached our destination by dawn, where I was told (what I was already fully informed of) that the convoy had already passed by, and that our quondam companions had been seized and hung up on the road-side. There they were, sure enough, dangling from the trees like _espata-lobos_,[202] and on the forehead of each was nailed the following notice in the French language.

"The undersigned, Lieutenant General of the Imperial French Army, and governor of Granada for his Catholic majesty Joseph Napoleon, &c. &c. &c., hereby gives notice, that the band of _factieux_, under the infamous traitor Blas Maldonado, having appeared in the military division under his command, all persons who may be persuaded to join, harbour, or furnish information or provisions to the same, will, on conviction thereof, be deemed equally traitors to their country, as the aforesaid Blas and his band, and will meet with the condign summary punishment due to their crimes; in witness whereof, he has this day caused to be hanged the rebel hereunto annexed.

RIGHT "---- ----."

This exceeded my hopes: the Basques of my party did not fail to give a very literal translation of this notice to their comrades, who longed for an opportunity of taking vengeance on our inhuman enemies. But it was not with the motive of keeping alive the inextinguishable hate that already existed between the _guerrillas_ and the French that I had got up this melo-drama; but rather to deter the remaining Catalans of my band from depending on themselves, should our interests jar on any future occasion, and they be inclined to throw off their allegiance. They were now made sensible how completely their want of acquaintance with the country rendered them dependent upon me. On my own countrymen I knew reliance might be placed, and I generally entrusted them with the out-post duty.

I affected, nevertheless, to be much enraged at the treatment the _Pobrecitos_, so lately our companions in arms, had experienced, and, a chapel being at hand, readily acquiesced--for I liked to encourage superstitious habits in my followers--in the proposal of offering up masses for their souls; concluding our pious work with a vow not to spare any French_man_, woman, or child, that should fall into our hands for the next six months.

"Al hierro caliente machacar de repente,"[203]

as the saying is. Having satisfied myself, from information collected from the peasantry, that all the disposable French cavalry at Granada had been laid upon the false scent I had furnished the governor, I thought the opportunity favourable for enabling my men to keep their pious vow, and, at the same time, fill their _fajas_[204] with _onzas_. Descending, therefore, boldly into the fertile _Vega_ of Granada, we made a dash at Santa Fé, reaching the little walled town at the very moment a party of French soldiers were busily occupied in loading some bullock carts with contributions raised in the surrounding district. So scared were they by our sudden appearance, that, instead of shutting the gates in our faces, and _haciendo la higa_,[205] as they might have done, they took themselves off _à bride abattue_, and never stopped until they had placed the Genil between us. So sudden, indeed, was our arrival, and so precipitate their departure, that we caught two luckless French commissaries, who, being busily engaged in taking an account of barrels of flour stored in one of the churches at the further end of the town, had not heard the alarm.

My troopers were anxious to _dar quito_[206] for their comrades hanged at Alhendin; and I was far from being disposed to baulk their fancy, but thought we would do it with _éclat_. Having, therefore, first plunged the two caitiffs "_patos arriba_"[207] in one of their flour casks, we took them to the city gate facing Granada; which, being old, and hanging loosely upon its hinges, we were enabled, by cutting two small notches in the side posts, to force their heads through, and so throttle them by closing the gate upon its centre, leaving their heads sticking out, like the mock-guns of a smuggler's _xebeque_.[208]

This done, I wrote with some chalk the following notice on the outside of the gate.

"The undersigned, Principal Ratcatcher to his Catholic Majesty _Fernando Septimo_, charged by an act of the _Junta_ of government now established at Cadiz with the duty of clearing the province of Andalusia of the rats and other vermin with which it is at this moment overrun, to the destruction and undermining of the glorious fabric of our independence, hereby gives notice, that any persons who may henceforth feed, harbour, or encourage the same, will themselves be considered equally as detrimental to the country as the aforesaid rats, and will, on conviction, meet with the same condign summary punishment.

"In witness whereof, I have this day throttled the two weasels hereunto made fast.

RIGHT "BLAS MALDONADO."

I was ever afterwards called _El Ratonero_.