anniversary of the death of Jesus Christ. Friday has long been
considered an unlucky day, and Good Friday, in spite of its name,
has been regarded by popular superstition as a fatal day. One born
on that day might have particular aptitude for witchcraft.]

[Footnote 2: señalado con la cruz = 'marked with the cross.' The
reference here is doubtless to a birth-mark in the form of a cross,
which would indicate a special aptitude for thaumaturgy or
occultism. This might take the form of Christian mysticism, as in
the case of St. Leo, who is said to have been "marked all over with
red crosses" at birth (see Brewer, _Dictionary of Miracles_, Phila.,
1884, p. 425), or the less orthodox form of magic, as is suggested
here.]

[Footnote 3: Salomón = 'Solomon.' "A famous king of Israel, 993-953
B.C. (Duncker), son of David and Bathsheba.... The name of Solomon,
who was supposed to have possessed extraordinary magical powers,
plays an important part in Eastern and thence in European legends,"
_Century Dict._ "His wisdom enabled him (as legend informs us) to
interpret the speech of beasts and birds, a gift shared afterwards,
it was said, by his descendant Hillel (Koran, sura 37, Ewald,
_Gesch. Isr._, iii, 407)." M'Clintock and Strong, _Cyclopedia of
Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature_, N.Y., 1880,
vol. ix, p. 871.]

--¿Y á qué se refiere esa facultad maravillosa?

--Se refiere, prosiguió el montero, á que, según él afirma, y lo jura
y perjura por todo lo más sagrado del mundo, los ciervos que discurren
por estos montes, se han dado de ojo para no dejarle en paz, siendo lo