_Antonio_.—Brother, I am fifty years old, and you see me standing before you in life and strength; how could that be unless the _bar lachí_ had power? I have been soldier and _contrabandista_, and I have likewise slain and robbed the _Busné_. The bullets of the _Gabiné_ and of the _jara canallis_ have hissed about my ears without injuring me, for I carried the _bar lachí_. I have twenty times done that which by _Busné_ law should have brought me to the _filimicha_, yet my neck has never yet been squeezed by the cold _garrote_. Brother, I trust in the _bar lachí_, like the _Caloré_ of old: were I in the midst of the gulph of _Bombardó_ without a plank to float upon, I should feel no fear; for if I carried the precious stone, it would bring me safe to shore. The _bar lachí_ has power, brother. _Myself_.—I shall not dispute the matter with you, more especially as I am about to depart from Badajoz: I must speedily bid you farewell, and we shall see each other no more. _Antonio_.—Brother, do you know what brings me hither? _Myself_.—I cannot tell, unless it be to wish me a happy journey: I am not gypsy enough to interpret the thoughts of other people. _Antonio_.—All last night I lay awake, thinking of the affairs of Egypt; and when I arose in the morning I took the _bar lachí_ from my bosom, and scraping it with a knife, swallowed some of the dust in _aguardiente_, as I am in the habit of doing when I have made up my mind; and I said to myself, I am wanted on the frontiers of _Castumba_ on a certain matter. The strange _Caloró_ is about to proceed to _Madrilati_; the journey is long, and he may fall into evil hands, peradventure into those of his own blood; for let me tell you, brother, the _Calés_ are leaving their towns and villages, and forming themselves into troops to plunder the _Busné_, for there is now but little law in the land, and now or never is the time for the _Caloré_ to become once more what they were in former times. So I said, the strange _Caloró_ may fall into the hands of his own blood and be ill-treated by them, which were shame: I will therefore go with him through the _Chim del Manró_ as far as the frontiers of _Castumba_, and upon the frontiers of _Castumba_ I will leave the London _Caloró_ to find his own way to _Madrilati_, for there is less danger in _Castumba_ than in the _Chim del Manró_, and I will then betake me to the affairs of Egypt which call me from hence. _Myself_.—This is a very hopeful plan of yours, my friend; and in what manner do you propose that we shall travel? _Antonio_.—I will tell you, brother. I have a _gras_ in the stall, even the one which I purchased at Olivenças, as I told you on a former occasion; {108} it is good and fleet, and cost me, who am a gypsy, fifty _chulé_; upon that _gras_ you shall ride. As for myself, I will journey upon the _macho_.