Dona Perfecta

  CHAPTER XXI

  "DESPERTA FERRO"

  About this time the following items of news appeared in the Madridnewspapers:

  "There is no truth whatever in the report that there has been aninsurrection in the neighborhood of Orbajosa. Our correspondent in thatplace informs us that the country is so little disposed for adventuresthat the further presence of the Batalla brigade in that locality isconsidered unnecessary."

  "It is said that the Batalla brigade will leave Orbajosa, as troops arenot required there, to go to Villajuan de Nahara, where guerillas havemade their appearance."

  "The news has been confirmed that the Aceros, with a number of mountedfollowers, are ranging the district of Villajuan, adjacent to thejudicial district of Orbajosa. The governor of the province of X. hastelegraphed to the Government that Francisco Acero entered Las Roquetas,where he demanded provisions and money. Domingo Acero (Faltriquera), wasranging the Jubileo mountains, actively pursued by the Civil Guards, whokilled one of his men and captured another. Bartolome Acero is the manwho burned the registry office of Lugarnoble and carried away with himas hostages the alcalde and two of the principal landowners."

  "Complete tranquillity reigns in Orbajosa, according to a letter whichwe have before us, and no one there thinks of anything but cultivatingthe garlic fields, which promise to yield a magnificent crop. Theneighboring districts, however, are infested with guerillas, but theBatalla brigade will make short work of these."