The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-07-21
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE.

Some years ago, important business
summoned me to Spain, and forced
me to live nearly a year in Andalusia
At that time | was hardly twenty
three years old. Instead of confining
myself to Cadiz, the streets OF which
are narrow and dirty, | went to Puer
TO Real, pretty town with white
houses pierced by an infinite number
of windows, behind the blinds Of
which, at every hour of the day, you
see black eyes sparkling and red lips
smiling
SO my time passed in the most
pleasant manner In the world. Neg
lecting my business more than [
should have done, Imade many pleas
ant acquaintance, and only sought
to amuse myself
Still, three or four times Il week, l
plucked up my courage, tore myself
away from delicious retreat, and
mounted on magnificent jennet, gal
loped the three leagues between Puer-
to-real and Cadiz, and looked into my
business, much more to discover how
much longer | could enjoy the delic
ious life | had organized, than for the
serious interests which had been in
trusted to me.
At this time much was said about a
certain highwayman, Jose Maria, who
had for long time secured the high
ways Of Spain, and who, having made
peace with the government, had retir-
ed to Cadiz, his native place, there to
enjoy quietly and honorably the fruits
OF his career of robbery.
The ex bandit had awakened in me
keen curiosity and a great desire to
meet him.
One morning l received a letter
from one of my companions, named
Don Torribio Quesada, announcing
that the famous Jose Maria was to
dine with him that evening at Cadiz
and urging me not to lose the oppor-
tunity of seeing and conversing with
the old bandit
Bounding with joy at this unexpect-
ed news, | had my horse saddled at
once, and rode toward Cadiz at full
speed. Two hours latter | was com
fortably installed in Don Torribio's
| drawing room.
Jose Maria was punctudl. He was
the sort OF man | expected to see He
was such as my imagination had re-
presented him, and the few hours
spent In his company We're very en-
| joyable, and seemed to pass with the
speed of dream. SO strongly was |
impressed on hearing him relate, with
his grave sonOrous voice, and with the
expansion and frankness of a superior
man, the stirring incidents of his ad-
venturous life.
Finally we had to separate. Jose
Maria left Us, after parting glass of
wine, and after having shaken hands
with us in friendly way.
When | found myself alone with
Don ToTibio, he invited me to pass
the night with him for it was getting
dark, and | was three leagues from
Puerto Real. But [ persisted in set
ting out Wrapping myself in cloak,
| set spurs to my horses sides, and
galloped off.
The night was dark and the atmos-
phere was hot and heavy. Big drops
of rain were beginning to fall. and at
intervals deep growls of thunder were
heard IN the distance, preceded by
flashes of lightning, the vivid splendor
of which blinded my horse and made
him rear with terror.
advanced fearfully along the soil
tary road my head was full of the
gloomy stories which Jose Maria had
been telling all evening without stop
ping, and my eyes wandering about
me anxiously, seeking to pierce the
obscurity and fortify me against the
snares that might be set for me by
the Cdbdileros de Ia Nocbe Cavaliers
of the Night, who at that period
swarmed on all the highways of Anda-
/ lusia
was armed. and. notwithstanding
my apprehensions, had too often rid
den from Cadiz to Puerto Real not to
! know what to think about the subject
of my fear: but this night. with my
head stuffed with a number of lamen
table stories, | was prey to unaccus-
toned terror. OF what was l afraid ?
| know motor, rather, to tell the
truth, | was afraid of everything.
Meanwhile the weather had become
detestable The sky had changed tc
an immense sheet of fire: ircessant
flashes of lightning spread lvid fan
tantic light, the rain was falling il
torrents; and finally the tempest
which had been threatening long
time, burst forth in fury.