move from one station to another in the day under the burning influence
of the sun."

"You can do so, sir; I have already given my orders to this purpose;
they will not be infringed."

Some days afterwards, I left for Denia; it was midnight, when some
horsemen rode up to me, and addressed these words to me:--

"Stop there, señor; times are hard; those who have something must aid
those who have nothing. Give us the keys of your trunks; we will only
take your superfluities."

I had already obeyed their orders, when it came into my head to call
out--"But I have been told, that I could travel without risk."

"What is your name, sir?"

"Don Francisco Arago."

"_Hombre! vaya usted con Dios_ (God be with you)."

And our cavaliers, spurring away from us, rapidly lost themselves in a
field of "algarrobos."

When _my friend_ the robber of Cullera assured me that I had nothing to
fear from his subordinates, he informed me at the same time that his
authority did not extend north of Valencia. The banditti of the northern
part of the kingdom obeyed other chiefs; one of whom, after having been
taken, was condemned and hung, and his body divided into four quarters,