Somebody's coming!"
The pirates started on a run down the Paseo del Canal.
Madrid, with its yellowish dwellings veiled in a cloud of dust, came
into view. The high window-panes were aglow with the reflection of the
setting sun. From the Paseo del Canal, crossing a stubble patch, they
reached the Plaza de las Penuelas, then, after going up another street
they climbed the Paseo de las Acacias.
They entered the Corralon. Manuel and Vidal, after having arranged to
meet the gang on the following Sunday, climbed the stairway to Senor
Ignacio's house and as they drew near to the cobbler's door they heard
cries.
"Father's giving the old lady a beating," murmured Vidal. "There
won't be much to eat today. I'm going off to sleep."
"And how do I get to the other house?" asked Manuel.
"All you have to do is walk along the Ronda until you reach the Aguila
street stairway. You can't miss it."
Manuel followed the directions. It was fearfully hot; the air was
thick with dust. A few men were playing cards in tavern doorways, and
in others they were dancing in embrace to the strains of a
barrel-organ.
When Manuel reached the Aguila Street stairway it was getting dark. He
sat down to rest a while in the Campillo de Gil Imon. From this
elevated point could be seen the yellowish country, growing darker and
darker with approaching night, and the chimneys and housetops sharply
outlined against the horizon.
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