登陆注册
15394800000021

第21章

I thought this man was a coward, but I did him injustice, for during the day he was as brave as a lion, and feared no one.About five years since, he had overcome two robbers who had attacked him on the moors, and, after tying their hands behind them, had delivered them up to justice; but at night the rustling of a leaf filled him with terror.I have known similar instances of the kind in persons of otherwise extraordinary resolution.For myself, I confess I am not a person of extraordinary resolution, but the dangers of the night daunt me no more than those of midday.The man in question was a farmer from Evora, and a person of considerable wealth.

I found the inn at Vendas Novas thronged with people, and had some difficulty in obtaining accommodation and refreshment.

It was occupied by the family of a certain Fidalgo, from Estremoz; he was on the way to Lisbon, conveying a large sum of money, as was said - probably the rents of his estates.He had with him a body guard of four-and-twenty of his dependants, each armed with a rifle; they consisted of his swineherds, shepherds, cowherds, and hunters, and were commanded by two youths, his son and nephew, the latter of whom was in regimentals; nevertheless, notwithstanding the number of his troop, it appeared that the Fidalgo laboured under considerable apprehension of being despoiled upon the waste which lay between Vendas Novas and Pegoens, as he had just requested a guard of four soldiers from the officer who commanded a detachment stationed here: there were many females in his company, who, I was told, were his illegitimate daughters - for he bore an infamous moral character, and was represented to me as a staunch friend of Don Miguel.It was not long before he came up to me and my new acquaintance, as we sat by the kitchen fire: he was a tall man of about sixty, but stooped much.His countenance was by no means pleasing: he had a long hooked nose, small twinkling cunning eyes, and, what I liked worst of all, a continual sneering smile, which I firmly believe to be the index of a treacherous and malignant heart.He addressed me in Spanish, which, as he resided not far from the frontier, he spoke with fluency, but contrary to my usual practice, I was reserved and silent.

On the following morning I rose at seven, and found that the party from Estremoz had started several hours previously.

I breakfasted with my acquaintance of the preceding night, and we set out to accomplish what remained of our journey.The sun had now arisen; and all his fears had left him - he breathed defiance against all the robbers of the Alemtejo.When we had advanced about a league, the boy who attended us said he saw heads of men amongst the brushwood.Our cavalier instantly seized his gun, and causing his horse to make two or three lofty bounds, held it in one hand, the muzzle pointed in the direction indicated, but the heads did not again make their appearance, and it was probably but a false alarm.

We resumed our way, and the conversation turned, as might be expected, upon robbers.My companion, who seemed to be acquainted with every inch of ground over which we passed, had a legend to tell of every dingle and every pine-clump.We reached a slight eminence, on the top of which grew three stately pines: about half a league farther on was another similar one: these two eminences commanded a view of the road from Pegoens and Vendas Novas, so that all people going and coming could be descried, whilst yet at a distance.My friend told me that these heights were favourite stations of robbers.

Some two years since, a band of six mounted banditti remained there three days, and plundered whomsoever approached from either quarter: their horses, saddled and bridled, stood picqueted at the foot of the trees, and two scouts, one for each eminence, continually sat in the topmost branches and gave notice of the approach of travellers: when at a proper distance the robbers below sprang upon their horses, and putting them to full gallop, made at their prey, shouting RENDETE, PICARO!

RENDETE, PICARO! (Surrender, scoundrel, surrender!) We, however, passed unmolested, and, about a quarter of a mile before we reached Pegoens, overtook the family of the Fidalgo.

Had they been conveying the wealth of Ind through the deserts of Arabia, they could not have travelled with more precaution.The nephew, with drawn sabre, rode in front;pistols at his holsters, and the usual Spanish gun slung at his saddle.Behind him tramped six men in a rank, with muskets shouldered, and each of them wore at his girdle a hatchet, which was probably intended to cleave the thieves to the brisket should they venture to come to close quarters.There were six vehicles, two of them calashes, in which latter rode the Fidalgo and his daughters; the others were covered carts, and seemed to be filled with household furniture; each of these vehicles had an armed rustic on either side; and the son, a lad about sixteen, brought up the rear with a squad equal to that of his cousin in the van.The soldiers, who by good fortune were light horse, and admirably mounted, were galloping about in all directions, for the purpose of driving the enemy from cover, should they happen to be lurking in the neighbourhood.

I could not help thinking as I passed by, that this martial array was very injudicious, for though it was calculated to awe plunderers, it was likewise calculated to allure them, as it seemed to hint that immense wealth was passing through their territories.I do not know how the soldiers and rustics would have behaved in case of an attack;but am inclined to believe that if three such men as Richard Turpin had suddenly galloped forth from behind one of the bush-covered knolls, neither the numbers nor resistance opposed to them would have prevented them from bearing away the contents of the strong box jingling in their saddle-bags.

From this moment nothing worthy of relating occurred till our arrival at Aldea Gallega, where we passed the night, and next morning at three o'clock embarked in the passage-boat for Lisbon, where we arrived at eight - and thus terminates my first wandering in the Alemtejo.

同类推荐
  • 载酒园诗话

    载酒园诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 七佛父母姓字经

    七佛父母姓字经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 番大悲神咒

    番大悲神咒

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北齐书

    北齐书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 颐山诗话

    颐山诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 异域霸途

    异域霸途

    世界本身没有想象那么简单,而这一切的秘密都需要探索。
  • 岛屿南风不及月明

    岛屿南风不及月明

    提笔写爱,写的不过是一部分青春,留下的不过是一卷斑驳岁月。即使我们那样的遥不可及,但只要我们也曾近过咫尺,即使我们曾未相守履行诺言,但只要不留遗憾,那就足够了。“南屿哥哥你看见了吗,皎皎幸福了,梨皎皎已经幸福了,并且连同你的那份一起幸福着呢!”晴日暖阳下,女孩依偎在身侧男子的怀中,笑的是那样的满足与轻松PS:谁都会是梨皎皎,谁都会是黎南屿,被爱着与深爱着,不要辜负,不要失望
  • 添品妙法莲华经

    添品妙法莲华经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 何处不芳菲

    何处不芳菲

    一朝穿越,村姑也好,将军之女也罢,她想要的其实都很简单。
  • 再活一次商女无敌

    再活一次商女无敌

    我是个很会自我满足的人,爷爷奶奶吵闹,没事老人家嘛。不要去计较太多。大伯胡搅蛮缠。没事老爸就这么一个兄弟不帮他帮谁呢。小姑无理取闹,吃拿卡要。怎么办呢有钱帮就帮一点吧。爸爸愚孝。妈妈又好强。其实都挺好的。我呢?要学历没学历要工作没工作。唯一还能看上眼的就是我比较懂满足。我有个老实可爱的老公,有偶尔挑刺却很勤劳的婆婆。有个脾气暴躁却还蛮正直的老公公。还有个可爱的顽皮到家的儿子。好吧其实都挺好的。小日子过的也还算舒心。我很幸福哒。直到那天我收到陌生QQ发来的一张照片。我的世界颠覆了。
  • 李贺集

    李贺集

    《李贺集》收录了唐代著名诗人李贺的作品。宋代以后,李贺诗名鹊起,与李白、李商隐并称“三李”。北宋初传的《李贺集》为四卷,诗为219首,卷数与自编卷数相同,但篇目、篇数、编次略有不同。后又有五卷本,在四卷本的基础上加《外集》一卷,收诗22首,与四卷本合计,共241首。五卷本今有汲古阁校刻的北宋鲍钦止本、董氏诵芬室及蒋氏密韵楼两家影刻的北宋宣城本,集名为《李贺歌诗编》。又有《续古逸丛书》影印的南宋本,名为《李长吉文集》。又有铁琴铜剑楼、《四部丛刊》影印的蒙古刊本,集名《李贺歌诗编》。
  • 联盟之最强大圣

    联盟之最强大圣

    齐天大圣取经之后做了什么?联盟中的齐天大圣是否就是那个齐天大圣?
  • 爱情的修养

    爱情的修养

    你可能是爱上一个人了。其次你要做好心理准备,爱一个人并不全是甜蜜的,你要做好吃苦的准备。最后,你要找适当的借口去接近她。慢慢和她变熟。然后可以追她。
  • 阿宅动漫狂想曲

    阿宅动漫狂想曲

    我这才明白,此刻,一段动漫传奇开始了!!!还有作者更新时间不定还有推荐小说《告诉你我有异能了吗》
  • 难知阴阳

    难知阴阳

    据文献记载,百年前,有异象滋生,神识滑天,经大陆而坠红尘,不知所踪。然阴阳难存,世人皆不懂其中玄妙,只知叹为福相。殊不解,难知阴阳,卦为凶。年少惊天起,命理谁可知。