第138章

"Their demand was fair, and the chief inclined his head in sign of acquiescence.The eyes of all shone fiercely as they made their demand, and the red light of the fire made them look like demons.The names of all, including Carlini, were placed in a hat, and the youngest of the band drew forth a ticket; the ticket bore the name of Diovolaccio.He was the man who had proposed to Carlini the health of their chief, and to whom Carlini replied by breaking the glass across his face.A large wound, extending from the temple to the mouth, was bleeding profusely.Diovalaccio, seeing himself thus favored by fortune, burst into a loud laugh.`Captain,' said he, `just now Carlini would not drink your health when Iproposed it to him; propose mine to him, and let us see if he will be more condescending to you than to me.' Every one expected an explosion on Carlini's part; but to their great surprise, he took a glass in one hand and a flask in the other, and filling it, -- `Your health, Diavolaccio,' said he calmly, and he drank it off, without his hand trembling in the least.Then sitting down by the fire, `My supper,'

said he; `my expedition has given me an appetite.' -- `Well done, Carlini!' cried the brigands; `that is acting like a good fellow;' and they all formed a circle round the fire, while Diavolaccio disappeared.Carlini ate and drank as if nothing had happened.The bandits looked on with astonishment at this singular conduct until they heard footsteps.They turned round, and saw Diavolaccio bearing the young girl in his arms.Her head hung back, and her long hair swept the ground.As they entered the circle, the bandits could perceive, by the firelight, the unearthly pallor of the young girl and of Diavolaccio.This apparition was so strange and so solemn, that every one rose, with the exception of Carlini, who remained seated, and ate and drank calmly.Diavolaccio advanced amidst the most profound silence, and laid Rita at the captain's feet.Then every one could understand the cause of the unearthly pallor in the young girl and the bandit.A knife was plunged up to the hilt in Rita's left breast.Every one looked at Carlini; the sheath at his belt was empty.`Ah, ah,' said the chief, `Inow understand why Carlini stayed behind.' All savage natures appreciate a desperate deed.No other of the bandits would, perhaps, have done the same; but they all understood what Carlini had done.`Now, then,' cried Carlini, rising in his turn, and approaching the corpse, his hand on the butt of one of his pistols, `does any one dispute the possession of this woman with me?' -- `No,' returned the chief, `she is thine.' Carlini raised her in his arms, and carried her out of the circle of firelight.Cucumetto placed his sentinels for the night, and the bandits wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and lay down before the fire.At midnight the sentinel gave the alarm, and in an instant all were on the alert.It was Rita's father, who brought his daughter's ransom in person.`Here,' said he, to Cucumetto, `here are three hundred piastres; give me back my child.But the chief, without taking the money, made a sign to him to follow.The old man obeyed.They both advanced beneath the trees, through whose branches streamed the moonlight.

Cucumetto stopped at last, and pointed to two persons grouped at the foot of a tree.