The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-05-28

Gus, Tor 1 knew was always hunted, but
my companions kept so close watch over
me that no harm befell me, and at last
thought Of resuming my work. Strength
and health were restored was happy in
the affection and devotion of the worthy
fellows who surrounded me, and with for
getfulness and contempt for the inhdelities
OF the past my calmness Of mind and heart
returned. l was going to return to the
mine, when ono evening an unusual num-
Der of my companions invaded my hut and
asked me to listen to spokesman, who
had communication to make to me In the
,ome OF all One of them advanced and
said
""Listen, comrade: We have done for
you all that brother might do, and we
know that you are grateful and ready to
do as much for us; but what we ask Of
you to-day is service Of another kind.
You are wrong in thinking to return to
work. You would fall i'll again, and this
time our care might be unavailing. Your
hands were never made to dig in the
mines; they are better made to hold a
weapon and guide horse. Society pur-
sues you for crime of which you were
not wllfully guilty. aprice is set upon
your head; you are hunted like wild
beast; you have no family but ours be
then our brother, our chief: tomorrow we
will bring you arms and the horse that
brought you into the mountains BE our
chief, and when we need you we shall
count on your strong arm and courage, as
you may count oR our blind devotion and
obedience"
"Could refuse9 accepted. accepted
even with pride and gratitude this way of
acquitting myself toward these kind
hearted fellows. From that moment was
treated like lord, and provided luxuri-
ously and abundantly with all that could
augment the pleasure of life and flatter
self-love.
"'Not long afterward the same COM
panion who had offered me the command,
and who was to be my lieutenant told me
that the time had come to pnt myself at
the head Of my men and make strike, on
which depended the future of the band.
1t was to assist the landing of a ship loaded
with smuggled goods which had arrived
off the coast of Marabello the night before.
The royal troops had been warned, and
were to oppose the landing of the goods
by force. Our plan was to surprise the
latter by sudden and bold attack, while
acertain number of us got the goods ashore
and hurried them into the mountain. 1t
was an audacious scheme, the resistance
was likely to be terrible, but we numbered
nearly 100 men, and the custom-house
officers could not be more numerous, and
we were certain Of the neutrality of the
people on the shore.
"'On the day appointed we employed the
time in fixing our weapons, distributing
ammunition, and instructing each man in
his duty. At dusk took the head of my
troops, and we soon arrived at short dis
ba 1andipo xx,ha han he 10, th,
formation of the ground, we could easily
hide ourselves and scatter in little groups
so as not to raise an alarm. At mignight
cannon fired from the brig announced
that the boats had quit the ships, and
soon, indeed, black masses which ad-
vanced in the shadow could be seen on the
horizon. At the same time we ap-
preached the shore, and then, all at once,
when the soldiers in ambush were on the
point of throwing themselves upon the
boats, which almost gained the shore, we
rushed upon them with a formidable war
cry and after short but desperate battle
we were masters Of the field In twink
ling the goods were landed and loaded on
mules and men, and the boats regained
the ship, which at once raised its anchor
and disappeared in the night
"'Only few men failed to respond to
the morning roll-call; we had brought off
our wounded, and the affair, cleverly di-
rected and bravely executed, brought us
nearly SOC, 1000 francs.
"'For my companions from that time I
was Capt. Samarilla, the chief, whom they
loved and would have followed to the end
of the world; the famous bandit on whose
head is a price, but who, If heaven pleases,
will never fall alive into the hands of the
law, for he will never be sold by his COM
panions'
Such was the history of Samarilla as re-
lated by himself.
Some days later, learned that the
king was going to Granada. l deter
mined to again see the wonders of the
Alhambra under the illuminations of q
fete.
The mountains had been infested with
brigands, but at this moment it was re-
ported that Samarilla with all his band
had departed for n distant province.
Nevertheless went to see my new friend,
NJ, c., informed him of my project, and
admitted that thought of asking the gov
ernment for an escort.
"Do nothing so foolish" he said at once.
"Besides being swindled outrageously at
all the inns you would attract attention
and infalliby be robbed and abducted
yoe Hnd your unhappy companions. Since
you are bound to go, will get four good,
strapping fellows, with whom you will have
nothing to fear, to go with you"
Thus attended by the escort provided, I
set forth on my journey. All went well
the first day; we lunched at an inn on an
omelette, with tomato sauce, a piece of
sausage, that excellent bread that every
body eats In Spain, and some fruit. The
landscape was charming, the temperature
very mild, for the road runs along the sea
and passes at the foot of the mountains
through some of the most picturesque
scenery have every beheld. We lodged
at comfortable hotel, and resumed our
journey at an early hour in the morning.
We were now in the very midst of the
Sierra Nevadas. The country became
more and more savage. The road wound
around the mountain side, with fathom-
less chasms on one side an ID and a wall Of
perpendicular rocks on the other. At
each turn new pandrama met the eye,
ana passed from one enchantment to an
other. From time to time / perceived
some armed men on the heights who
seemed to be sentinels, but having Ques-
TONED my attendants they told me they
were shepherds watching their flocks. All
at once at a turn in the road saw horse
man n few steps before me, escorted by
two men similarly mounted and armed. 1
pressed up my horse and coming up with
him wished him goodday. The horseman
who had but himself at my left to con-
tinue along the road with me, said in eX-
cellent French; ~ am delighted, sir, to
meet stranger. and above all French
man." j had no reason to hide my origin
nor the object of my journey, and as at
the first glance | had made up my mind
that was quite able to resist an attack by
my neighbor, we fell into conversation.
As went along | noticed that my un-
known wore with much distinction a
handsome costume of garnet velvet
braided with black, that his leggins were
finely embroidered, and that his arms
were magnificent.
"Then you have no fear of meeting brig
andsl" he asked.
why" l replied, ~ have heard of none
but Samarilla's band, and according to
what have heard of him believe have
no reason to fear a meeting with him. /
am a foreigner. | have no great amount
OF money, and Samarilla would reap no
great profit or glory by robbing me. Be
sides, am friend Of one of his friends
who formerly gave him work in his mine
when he was pursued by the officers Of
the law, and should l commend myself to
him believe he would do me no harm.
Samarilla is gentleman. myself am
an old soldier and officer, and am told