Filipino Popular Tales, by Dean S. Fansler

Juan the Peerless Robber

Narrated by Vicente M. Hilario, a Tagalog from Batangas, who heard

the story from a Batangas student.

Not many centuries after Charlemagne died, there lived in Europe

a famous brigand named Juan. From childhood he had been known as

"the deceitful Juan," "the unrivalled pilferer," "the treacherous

Juan." When he was twenty, he was forced to flee from his native land,

to which he never returned.

He visited Africa, where he became acquainted with a famous Ethiopian

robber named Pedro. Not long after they had met, a dispute arose

between them as to which was the more skilful pickpocket. They decided

to have a test. They stood face to face, and the Ethiopian was first

to try his skill.

"Hey!" exclaimed Juan to Pedro, "don't take my handkerchief out of

my pocket!"

It was now Juan's turn. He unbuckled Pedro's belt and slipped it into

his own pocket. "What's the matter with you, Juan?" said Pedro after

a few minutes. "Why don't you go ahead and steal something?"

"Ha, ha, ha!" said Juan. "Whose belt is this?"

Pedro generously admitted that he had been defeated.

Although these two thieves were united by strong ties of common

interest, nevertheless their diverse characteristics and traits

produced trouble at times. Pedro was dull, honorable, and frank;

Juan was hawk-eyed and double-faced. Pedro had so large a body and so

awkward and shambling a gait, that Juan could not help laughing at him

and saying sarcastic things to him. Juan was good-looking and graceful.

While they were travelling about in northern Africa, they heard

the heralds of the King of Tunis make the following proclamation:

"A big bag of money will be given to the captor of the greatest robber

in the country." The two friends, particularly Juan, were struck by

this announcement.

That night Juan secretly stole out of his room. Taking with him a

long rope, he climbed up to the roof of the palace. After making a

hole as large as a peso in the roof, he lowered himself into

the building by means of the rope. He found the room filled with bags

of gold and silver, pearls, carbuncles, diamonds, and other precious

stones. He took the smallest bag he could find, and, after climbing

out of the hole, went home quickly.

When Pedro heard Juan's thrilling report of the untold riches, he

decided to visit the palace the following night. Early in the morning

Juan went again to the palace, taking with him a large tub. After

lowering it into the room, he departed without delay. At nightfall he

returned to the palace and filled the tub with boiling water. He had

no sooner done this than Pedro arrived. Pedro was so eager to get the

wealth, that he made no use of the rope, but jumped immediately into

the room when he reached the small opening his treacherous friend

had made in the roof. Alas! instead of falling on bags of money,

Pedro fell into the fatal tub of water, and perished.

An hour later Juan went to look for his friend, whom he found

dead. The next day he notified the king of the capture and death of

the greatest of African robbers. "You have done well," said the king

to Juan. "This man was the chief of all the African highwaymen. Take

your bag of money."

After putting his gold in a safe place, Juan went out in search of

further adventures. On one of his walks, he heard that a certain

wealthy and devout abbot had been praying for two days and nights

that the angel of the lord might come and take him to heaven. Juan

provided himself with two strong wings. On the third night he made

a hole as large as a peso through the dome of the church.

Calling the abbot, Juan said, "I have been sent by the Lord to take

you to heaven. Come with me, and bring all your wealth."

The abbot put all his money into the bag. "Now get into the bag,"

said Juan, "and we will go."

The old man promptly obeyed. "Where are we now?" said he, after an

hour's "flight."

"We are within one thousand miles of the abode of the blessed,"

was Juan's reply.

Twenty minutes later, and they were in Juan's cave. "Come out of the

bag, and behold my rude abode?" said Juan to the old man. The abbot

was astounded at the sight. When he heard Juan's story, he advised

him to abandon his evil ways. Juan listened to the counsels of his

new friend. He became a good man, and he and the abbot lived together

until their death.