GIL BIAS. 6 5
ffiall be well rccompenfed.—I dare likewife affirm* that on this occafion I was not at all afraid of the danger ; and that no knight-errant ever ffiewed more rea- dinefs to fuccour davnfcls in diftrefs. But, not to conceal the truth, the danger was not great; for La- mela having reported, that the arms of the robbers were all in a heap at the difiance of ten or twelve paces from them, it was no difficult matter foi us to execute our defign. We tied our hoi fe to a tree, and approached, as gently as poffible, the place, wheie they were talking w'ith great warmth ; and making a noife that helped us to fui prize them, we made our- felvcs matters of their arms, before we were difeover- ed : then firing a volley upon them, 11 retched them all breathlefs on the fpot.
During this execution the light going out, wc r*. mained in darknefs; but for all that, did not delay to untie the man and woman, who were fo much en- groffed by their fear, that they had not power to thank us for what we had done in their behalf. ’Tis true, indeed, they did not as yet know whether lo look upon us as their deliverers, or as a new troop of banditti, who had not refeued them from the otheis with any intention to ufe them better. But we encouraged them, by protelling that we would conduct them to an inn, which Ambrofe affii med was not more than half a league from thence; and that they might take all neceffary precautions for their fccurity, in going whither their affairs called them. After this affurance, with which they feemed veiy well fatisfied, we ft placed them in their chaife, and brought them out of the wood, leading the mules by the bridle. Our anchorites afterwards examined the pockets of the vanquifhed, took care of Don Alphonfo’s horfc, fccured thofe that belonged to the thieves, which we found tied to trees near the field of battle ; and carrying them all off, followed brother Antony, who mounted one of the mules, in order to guide the chaife to the inn ; at which, however, wc did not ar-