We betook ourselves, therefore, to the innermost recesses of the Ronda mountains, moving constantly from place to place, as well to harass our pursuers, as to avoid being surrounded by them; and such is the intricacy of the country, and so numerous are the rocky fastnesses of the smugglers (from whom we were always sure of a good reception), that we readily baffled all pursuit, and exhausted the patience of our enemies; and, at length, seizing a favourable opportunity of inflicting a severe loss upon one of their parties, the patriotic zeal of these gentry so completely evaporated, that we were left in the undisturbed command of the Serranía.
All hope of being serviceable to our country at an end, we were compelled, as a last resource, to adopt the only calling to which we were suited, viz., that of highway robbers; and for several months every road between Gibraltar and Malaga, and the inland towns, was, in turn, subject to our predaceous visits.
On one occasion a dignitary of the church, whose name and particular station it would not be prudent of me to mention, fell into our hands. His attendants, who were of a militant order, defended their master with great obstinacy. They were eventually overpowered, however, but several of my men having been badly wounded in the scuffle, were so exasperated, that they determined to shoot all those who had fallen into our hands, as well as the —— himself; who, though he had not taken an active part in the combat, had made no attempt to restrain his pugnacious adherents.
As soon as our prisoners had been secured, therefore, the portly ecclesiastic was directed to descend from his sleek mule, deliver up his money, and prepare for death. He inveighed in eloquent terms at our barbarity, pointed out to us the iniquity of our proceedings, the probability of a speedy punishment overtaking us in this life, and the certainty of having to endure everlasting torments in that which is to come. But it was to no purpose; indeed, it only tempted my miscreants to prolong his misery; and, having tied him to a tree, they insisted upon his blessing them all round, ere they proceeded to shoot him.
“My children,” said the worthy ——, “my blessing, from the tone in which you ask it, would serve you little. My life is in the hands of my Maker, not in your’s; and if it be His pleasure to make you the instruments of his divine will, so be it. I am prepared; death has no terrors for me; and may you obtain His forgiveness for the sin you are about to commit, as readily as I grant you mine. Now, I am ready;” and, looking upwards to the seat of all power and grace, he paid no further attention to their scoffing.
“Now Señor Bias,” said one of my men, “since he will give us no more sport, give the word, and let us finish his business.”
“Hold!” exclaimed one of the ——’s suite, addressing me, “Is your name Blas Maldonado?”
“It is: wherefore?”
“Because, if such be the case, in his Excellency’s portefuille you will find a letter addressed to you.”
I forthwith proceeded to examine its contents, and, true enough, found a letter bearing my address. It was from my old friend Jacobo, requesting, should the —— fall into my hands, that I would suffer him to pass without molestation, in return for services conferred on him, which would be explained at our next meeting.[146]