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community and allowing the community to live mainly at his； it
would be folly to accept what is to him personally the greater of
the two evils。
We may therefore contemplate the tramps of the Sierra without
prejudice； admitting cheerfully that our objectsbriefly；
to be gentlemen of fortuneare much the same as theirs； and the
difference in our position and methods merely accidental。 One
or two of them； perhaps； it would be wiser to kill without malice
in a friendly and frank manner； for there are bipeds； just as
there are quadrupeds； who are too dangerous to be left unchained
and unmuzzled； and these cannot fairly expect to have other men's
lives wasted in the work of watching them。 But as society has not
the courage to kill them； and； when it catches them； simply
wreaks on them some superstitious expiatory rites of torture and
degradation； and than lets them loose with heightened
qualifications for mischief； it is just as well that they are at
large in the Sierra； and in the hands of a chief who looks as if
he might possibly； on provocation； order them to be shot。
This chief； seated in the centre of the group on a squared block
of stone from the quarry； is a tall strong man； with a striking
cockatoo nose； glossy black hair； pointed beard； upturned
moustache； and a Mephistophelean affectation which is fairly
imposing； perhaps because the scenery admits of a larger swagger
than Piccadilly； perhaps because of a certain sentimentality in
the man which gives him that touch of grace which alone can
excuse deliberate picturesqueness。 His eyes and mouth are by no
means rascally； he has a fine voice and a ready wit； and whether
he is really the strongest man in the party； or not； he looks it。
He is certainly； the best fed； the best dressed； and the best
trained。 The fact that he speaks English is not unexpected in
spite of the Spanish landscape； for with the exception of one man
who might be guessed as a bullfighter ruined by drink and one
unmistakable Frenchman； they are all cockney or American；
therefore； in a land of cloaks and sombreros； they mostly wear
seedy overcoats； woollen mufflers； hard hemispherical hats； and
dirty brown gloves。 Only a very few dress after their leader；
whose broad sombrero with a cock's feather in the band； and
voluminous cloak descending to his high boots； are as un…English
as possible。 None of them are armed； and the ungloved ones keep
their hands in their pockets because it is their national belief
that it must be dangerously cold in the open air with the night
coming on。 （It is as warm an evening as any reasonable man could
desire）。
Except the bullfighting inebriate there is only one person in the
company who looks more than； say； thirty…three。 He is a small man
with reddish whiskers； weak eyes； and the anxious look of a
small tradesman in difficulties。 He wears the only tall hat
visible： it shines in the sunset with the sticky glow of some
sixpenny patent hat reviver； often applied and constantly tending
to produce a worse state of the original surface than the ruin it
was applied to remedy。 He has a collar and cuff of celluloid； and
his brown Chesterfield overcoat； with velvet collar； is still
presentable。 He is pre…eminently the respectable man of the
party； and is certainly over forty； possibly over fifty。 He is
the corner man on the leader's right； opposite three men in
scarlet ties on his left。 One of these three is the Frenchman。 Of
the remaining two； who are both English； one is argumentative；
solemn； and obstinate； the other rowdy and mischievious。
The chief； with a magnificent fling of the end of his cloak
across his left shoulder； rises to address them。 The applause
which greets him shows that he is a favorite orator。
THE CHIEF。 Friends and fellow brigands。 I have a proposal to make
to this meeting。 We have now spent three evenings in discussing
the question Have Anarchists or Social…Democrats the most
personal courage？ We have gone into the principles of Anarchism
and Social…Democracy at great length。 The cause of Anarchy has
been ably represented by our one Anarchist； who doesn't know what
Anarchism means ＇laughter＇
THE ANARCHIST。 ＇rising＇ A point of order； Mendoza
MENDOZA。 ＇forcibly＇ No； by thunder： your last point of order took
half an hour。 Besides； Anarchists don't believe in order。
THE ANARCHIST。 ＇mild； polite but persistent： he is； in fact； the
respectable looking elderly man in the celluloid collar and
cuffs＇ That is a vulgar error。 I can prove
MENDOZA。 Order； order。
THE OTHERS ＇shouting＇ Order； order。 Sit down。 Chair！ Shut up。
The Anarchist is suppressed。
MENDOZA。 On the other hand we have three Social…Democrats among
us。 They are not on speaking terms； and they have put before us
three distinct and incompatible views of Social…Democracy。
THE MAJORITY。 ＇shouting assent＇ Hear； hear！ So we are。 Right。
THE ROWDY SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT。 ＇smarting under oppression＇ You ain't
no Christian。 You're a Sheeny； you are。
MENDOZA。 ＇with crushing magnanimity＇ My friend； I am an exception
to all rules。 It is true that I have the honor to be a Jew； and；
when the Zionists need a leader to reassemble our race on its
historic soil of Palestine； Mendoza will not be the last to
volunteer ＇sympathetic applausehear； hear； etc。＇。 But I am not
a slave to any superstition。 I have swallowed all the formulas；
even that of Socialism； though； in a sense； once a Socialist；
always a Socialist。
THE SOCIAL…DEMOCRATS。 Hear； hear！
MENDOZA。 But I am well aware that the ordinary maneven the
ordinary brigand； who can scarcely be called an ordinary man
＇Hear； hear！＇is not a philosopher。 Common sense is good enough
for him； and in our business affairs common sense is good enough
for me。 Well； what is our business here in the Sierra Nevada；
chosen by the Moors as the fairest spot in Spain？ Is it to
discuss abstruse questions of political economy？ No： it is to
hold up motor cars and secure a more equitable distribution of
wealth。
THE SULKY SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT。 All made by labor； mind you。
MENDOZA。 ＇urbanely＇ Undoubtedly。 All made by labor； and on its
way to be squandered by wealthy vagabonds in the dens of vice
that disfigure the sunny shores of the Mediterranean。 We
intercept that wealth。 We restore it to circulation among the
class that produced it and that chiefly needs itthe working
class。 We do this at the risk of our lives and liberties； by the
exercise of the virtues of courage； endurance； foresight； and
abstinenceespecially abstinence。 I myself have eaten nothing
but prickly pears and broiled rabbit for three days。
THE SULKY SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT。 （Stubbornly＇ No more ain't we。
MENDOZA。 ＇indignantly＇ Have I taken more than my share？
THE SULKY SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT。 ＇unmoved＇ Why should you？
THE ANARCHIST。 Why should he not？ To each according to his needs：
from each according to his means。
THE FRENCHMAN。 ＇shaking his fist at the anarchist＇ Fumiste！
MENDOZA。 ＇diplomatically＇ I agree with both of you。
THE GENUINELY ENGLISH BRIGANDS。 Hear； hear！ Bravo； Mendoza！
MENDOZA。 What I say is； let us treat one another as gentlemen；
and strive to excel in personal courage only when we t