Blood and Sand

him go to the devil. Cursed bad lu

master's bedroom door, and passed it on to

he is; otherwise the

e grange, till he came to the end of the distant fence which bounded the property. Close to the entrance through this fence

he labourer returned, hav

y these comings and goings, waited f

ering. "He seems to me up to no good. He says the master must

attention to his grumbling. He ought to get up, it was a late hou

o ill-humouredly, without

g

indow, and saw the rider coming

asy, and in his two dialogues with the banderillero, had stuttered with an

r a few minutes and then retraced his steps, run

the stairs no less quickly, com

he is Plumitas and that he must see the ma

t name. The banderillero stood dumb with surprise, and from the espada's room came a volley of oaths, the rustle of clothes, and the sound of some

want? Why has he come to La Ri

his night clothes. He ran on before the banderillero, with the blind impulsiveness o

ld the horse's reins, and the other labourers gathered in a group at

g

wrinkled and cracked by the sun and the rain. Underneath his jacket, his waist seemed swelled out by the folds of a large silk waist sash, and a cartridge box, to which were added the thickness of a revolver, and a large knife passed through his belt. In his

ed beard, unshaven for several days. The eyes were the only disquieting things in this good-humoured face, which looked as if it must b

he man recognized him at once, rais

an ..." he said with the grave c

od

ily quite wel

ours?" enquired the espada

well. But it is a long tim

he torero was pale, compressing his lips to hide his feelings. Did the bandit think he was going to frighten him! Possibly at another time this visit might

t gone out to work in the fields, were looking with almost childish wonder at

nd to the stable to rest a

n, who took the reins a

ia is the best thing I have in the world a

d the group, standing in th

rubbed his eyes, always bloodshot and inflamed by drink, and approaching the bandit let one huge hand fall on his shoulder with s

you, Plum

to resent this rough and unceremonious caress, and his right hand raised the rifle

g

n Seville at the last fair. Good Lord how you fell! How

h his horny hand, feeling his biceps with admiration. The two s

, Plumitas. But that does not matter; f

turned to

breakfa

the look of a

La Rincona leaves i

mense room, with a large wide open chimn

erseer's daughter, busied herself with putting on his b

nd reassured by the courteous manner of the visitor, a

he picador. "I have seen you fix in banderillas. When you like you

took up the glass, Plumitas found himself embarrassed

ador. "Do you stick to your weap

ept. This allusion to his weapon which seemed another limb of his body, made him grave. He looked all round uneasily, and suspiciously, with the

the kitchen going

that man

is chair, drawing his loaded carbine

ere the rest of the labourers were wo

I know you are a caballero, incapable of breathing a word.... Besides, you will have

vened before his

are here among comrades as long

mare, praising her qualities, and the two men hobnobbed with the en

here some of the farm women, swarthy and masculine, were prepar

l's room, and ask her not to come down. The bandit would most probably leave

estro apart from the others, went up to him, inquiring wi

ftener than you could imagine. I have seen you in Sev

eal army of soldiers after him, go quietly to a c

ever I like. I

s accompanied, at other times alone, passing close to him on the road, and taking no notice of

the truth. You see I was well informed.... Another time I saw you in one of those animals they call automobiles, with another gentleman from Sevi

s man, who seemed to be informed about everything. The bandit, in order to show his generosi

my enemy. I drew up my mare on one side of the road, and when that 'bicho' came along in a cloud of dust and stinking of petroleum, I shouted 'Halt!' He did not choose to stop, so I put a ball into one of

e heard Plumitas tell of his exploits on th

ell. I like you because you are a fine matador, and I have a weakness for brave men. The two of us are like comrades; we both live by exposing our lives. For this reason, although you did not know me, I

annoyance. "Curse it! Do?a Sol! Had not El Nacional given his message?"... The banderillero followed the la

hinking of him, proposing on the following morning to ride about the solitudes around La Rinconada, in the hopes that good luck would make her run against the inter

aw him tall, slim, of dark complexion, a pointed hat placed over a red handkerchief, from under which appeared curls of hair as black as jet. She saw an active man, dre

ointed hat or a blunderbus. She saw an unknown man, standing up, a kind of keeper with a

sa.... Your uncle, the M

g on that man, told her the trut

by the lady's presence, and continued standing with his

eemed to know every one. He knew who Do?a Sol was, and by an exce

m to sit down and cover himself, but though he obeye

g

n in Do?a Sol's eyes, which

f the calves. I have seen also from afar how the Se?ora attacked the young bulls with her garrocha. The Se?ora is very brave and the hand

y by his southern warmth to seek fresh

began to find the bandit decidedly interesting. Had he come to the farm only fo

n house ... before his very face! If he went on like this he would go up and fetch his gun,

the annoyance his words had caus

wife and four children, who weep for me more than the Virgin of Sorrows.

a Sol, he broke out into praises of her family. The Marquis

g

forgotten. There are so many rich rascals in the world!... Very often I have met him alone, riding his horse like a young man, as if years had stood still for him. 'Go with God, Se?o Marque.' 'Your health, my lad.' He did not know me; and could not guess who I was because my companion (touching his

l. And so that was the famous Plumitas!... A poor sort of man, a good c

me. Result, that I burnt his hay-rick, and did a few other little things, and he was more than a year without ever daring to go into Seville for fear of meeting Plumitas. Another man was going to evict a poor old woman from the house in which her parents had lived, because she had not paid any rent for a year. I went[

at the bandit wi

enquired. "How man

uld take a dislike to me, and after all I am only an unhappy man, w

s a long

civil guards again and again. I have no true friends but my mare and this (touching his carbine). Now and then I feel the longing to see my wife and little ones, and I go by night into my village. All the neighbours who see me shut their eyes. But some day this will end badly.... There are times when I am weary of solitude and feel I must see people. I have thought for a long time of coming to La Rincona. 'Why should I not pay a visit to

rstand that Gallardo's relations with Do?a Sol were no secret to him. In the bottom of this rough peasant's heart was a deep respect for legitimate

essed the bandit with questions as

d the labourers always put me as spokesman when they had anything to ask from the rich people. I can read and write, for I became sacris

Potaje inte

since I saw you that you were a

onfidences, but he smiled slightly. A sacristan turned into

they beat me. To cut it short, till dawn they beat me all over the body, sometimes with the ramrods, sometimes with the butt-ends, till they got tired and I became unconscious. They had tied both my hands and my feet, and beat me as if I were a bundle, saying: 'Are you not the bravest in your village? Get up and defend yourself, let's see how far you

said Potaje admiringl

. I would go if it were to hell itself. I leave the mare and the carbine with some friend to keep for me and I take the train like a gentleman. I have been in Barcelona, in Valladolid, in many other places. I stand near the prison and watch the ci

t.[Pg 202] What an original figure was Plumitas

gh he was afraid of having said too much,

o to the stables and see how they are treating the mare.

invitation, they left

out. Why had she come down? It was imprudent to show herself to

the espada's fears. The bandit seemed a good sort of fellow, an unfort

lms when he goes. What an original country this is! What types!... And how interesting his chase after

ying-pans off the fire, which spread th

nal, who took upon himself the functions of

hey proceeded to sit down on two benches placed alongside the table, while Gallardo looked undecidedly at Do?a Sol. She ought to breakfast upstairs in the family's rooms. But the lady, laughing at this invitation, sat down at the head of the table. She enjoyed this rustic li

able. "The masters and the servants eating together, as they are said t

till holding his carbine, whi

my lad," said he, pushi

by another push, and the two men laughed as they pushed eac

away from between your knees. Don't you see it

ding between his legs, was pointing

isted the latter. "Do y

plied the bandit shortly, frowning, as if he wou

g

ked round at the others, to make sure, with his rural

sh which had been placed in the middle of the table for him and the tore

ty, and after a few spoonsful stoppe

a scrap of bread and a drop of milk which they gave

ng Potaje's jests as to his voracity by win

er's presence, who was afraid of his drunkenness, he looked a

Dry food is bad;

lass, and even then with great hesitation. He was afraid of wine, and also he had lost the habit of drinking it. In the country he c

o one would touch you here. And if by any unlucky chance[Pg 205] the civil guards did come, I should place myself by your side, seizing a garrocha, an

other end of the table, fearing his loq

from which he enfiladed the entrance of the grange, seeing also part of the lonely road. Now and again, a cow or a pig or a goat would cross over the str

ion from outside, with the habit of always living ready at any time for

s from Potaje, the last, and remained with his ch

ered him an

lso out on the mountain, a poor fellow who appreciates a smoke even more than food. He

e wine had warmed Plumitas, and his face had become quite different. His eyes had[Pg 206] an alarming metallic lustre, and his chubby face was contracted by a spasm which seeme

, as if the poor woman could know her husband's doings. That Judas did not dare to leave his village for fear of meeting Plumitas, but just at that time I disappeared. I went on one of those journeys I told you about, and our man gained confidence enough to go to Seville one day on business and to set the authorities on me. So we waited for the return coach from Seville, and the coach arrived. The companion, who is a very good hand for anything on the road, cried 'Halt!' to the driver. I put my head and my carbine in through the doorway. There were screams from the women, yells from the children, and the men, who said nothing, were as white as wax. I said to the travellers: 'I have nothing to do with you, calm yourselves, lad

mpressed by terror, and in her eyes that strange li

, annoyed by thi

ge with hunger, and if I am careless I shall be riddled with shot, and left in the middle of a field for the crows to pick. But all the same the business does not please me, Se?o Juan! You know exactly where you have to strike the bull for him to fall to the ground

intense desire to know

-three or thirty-five. I really could not quite say. In this very restless life, who thinks of keeping exact accounts? But I am an unhappy man, Se?ora Marquesa, very unfortunate. The fault lay with tho

Plumitas took no notice of her, all his attention was fixed on the espada, wishing to show his gratitude for

ellow.' There are many aficionados who love you, but not as I do!... Just imagine, that to see you I have often disguised

is head. He was flattered

s money by risking his life just as I do.' We are in a way comrades. Because you will not deny, Se?o Juan, that although you are a personage, and that I am of the very worst, still we are equal, as we both live by playing[Pg 209] with death. Now we are breakfasting together quietly, but some day, if God looses his hand from

.." said Gallardo, suddenly

d was reflected in his face. His probable fate seemed to him just the same as that o

seeing a whole army tracking my footsteps, to see myself, a man alone, driving thousands mad who are paid by Government and wear a sword. The other day, a Sunday, I rode into a village during Mass, and drew up my mare in the Plaza close to some blind men who were singing and playing the guitar. The people were lost in admiration before a cartoon carried by the singers, which represented a fine looking man with whiskers, in a pointed hat, splendidly dressed and riding a magnificent horse, with a gun across the saddle bow, and a

d the farm had vanished, that desire that they should forget his personality, and see in him only a poor wayfarer pressed

s heart out working for others, or to follow the only career which gives fame and money-killing. I should be no good at killing bulls. My village is in the mountains where there ar

n gravely listening to the bandit,

is education-to know

uts of laughter by all wh

aid[Pg 211] Potaje, "let Plumitas go on with h

s contemptuously, indeed he thought very litt

. What a poor man wants is justice; that he may have his rights, but if they are not given then let him take them. One must be a wolf and spread fear. The other wo

did not exactly understand, still through the mists of dr

, comrade. Go

earers. I do not wish to be shorn. I was born to be a shearer, because I am a man who fears nothing. The same thin

sidering the espada. At last he

done in former days! You would not have been killing bulls, neither should I be wandering over the country hunted like a wild beast.[

e did not wish to admit his ignorance of thi

ed a country that must have been a real paradise, a country in which were the mines of Potosi: I can't say more. They fought many battles with the inhabitants, and at last conquered them, seizing their king's treasures, and he who got least got his house full up

silence, but their eyes f

e he might have spread have been appropriated by the English or other countries. I, who might have been a king in America or elsewhere, am proclaimed an outlaw,

g 213] become a soldier. He could go to distant countri

short time I get restless; it seems as if the mountain, with all its miseries, draws me, and I long once more to sleep on the ground, wrapped in my blanket with a stone for my pillow.... Yes, I might have been a soldier, and I should have been a good one. But where to

f he were absorbed in the mental contemplation of his misf

ood up graspin

Se?o Juan, for your kindnes

e, catching hold of him. "Sit down. Y

ay, delighted to think he should be able to d

long a time in so open and unconcealed a place as La Rinconada.

g

quired Potaje. "They will not come,

rave enough, but they are all fathers of families, and would manage not to see him. They only c

es began to knock for them to be opened. I ordered him and a shepherd to stand by the two leaves of the door. 'When I say "now" open them wide.' I mounted my mare, with my revolver in my hand. 'Now!' The door was opened wide, and I galloped out like the devil. They fired two or three shots, but did not touch me. I also fired as I went out, and I understand wounded two of the civile

e other farms or shepherd's ranches. This general silence was the bandit's most powerful auxiliary. Besides, all these country[Pg 215] p

to my own class, but some day advantage will be taken of my carelessness. I have enemies, people who have sworn vengeance on me; for one must have a heavy hand, if one would be respected. If one kills a man outright his family remain to avenge him, but if one is good natured and contents oneself with taking down his trousers and

ed on his powerful mare, the inseparable companion of his wanderings. The bony anim

She might indeed be content. She would not often be so well treated as at Se?or Ju

you going, comrad

e world! I myself do not kn

g

y and muddy stirrup with one b

hing the bandit's preparations for departur

, and advancing towards the rider offered him shamef

ry to give me something when I come to a farm; but that is for those others, the rich, whose money grow

her annoyed by the bandit's refusal, and h

her when we see each other in a Plaza. That wou

r's foot, and taking from her breast an autumn rose, she offer

andit surprised and wonderin

re overpowering, not knowing where to place it, till at last he passed it through a button-h

ing into[Pg 217] a smile. "Nothing of the sor

nd troubled by the womanliness

red up h

n.... Good-bye, my fine fellows. Some time or other

which made the bandit's vigorous muscles jump. That Plumitas, how "simpatico" he was

o! A

horse, he rode ou

rds Do?a Sol; she was standing motionless, following the ride

mured the espada sa

itas was ugly and was dirt

e would have

TNO

yeoman land

to express an i

pledge or dedica