others; 'however,' said he, 'were I
alone I should have little fear, for I am well protected.' I said that I
supposed he carried arms with him. 'No other arms than this,' said he,
and he pulled out a long, desperate-looking knife of English manufacture,
like that with which every Portuguese peasant is provided, and which I
should consider a far more efficient weapon than a dagger. 'But,' said
he, 'I do not place much confidence in the knife.' I then enquired in
what were his hopes of protection. 'In this,' he replied; and
unbuttoning his waistcoat he showed me a small bag, attached to his neck
by a silken string. 'In this bag is an _oracam_ (or prayer), written by
a person of power; and as long as I carry it about me no ill can befall
me.' Curiosity is one of the leading features of my character, and I
instantly said that to be allowed to read the prayer would give me great
pleasure. 'Well,' he replied, 'you are my friend, and I would do for you
what I would do for few others. I will show it you.' He then asked me
for my penknife and proceeded to unrip the bag, and took out of it a
large piece of paper closely folded up. I hurried with it to my chamber,
and commenced the examination of it. It was scrawled over in a very
illegible hand, and was moreover much stained with perspiration, so that
I had considerable difficulty in making myself master of its contents;
but at last I accomplished the following literal translation of the
charm, which was written in bad Portuguese, but which struck me at the
time as being the most remarkable composition I had ever seen.

The Charm

'Just Judge and divine Son of the Virgin Maria, who wast born at
Bethlehem, a Nazarene, and who wast crucified in the midst of all
Jewry! I beseech Thee, O Lord, by virtue of Thy sixth day {137} that
the body of me, Francisco, be not caught nor put to death by the
hands of Justice! Pazes teco (pax tecum), pazes Cristo. May you
receive peace, said Christ to His disciples. If the accursed Justice
should distrust me, or have its eye on me, in order to take me, or to
rob me, may it have an eye which shall not see me; may it have a
mouth which shall not speak to me; may it have an ear which shall not
hear me; may it have a hand which shall not seize me; may it have a
foot which shall not overtake me; for may I be armed with the arms of
Saint George; may I be covered with the cloak of Abra