“Yes; load the guns,” said Bruno, and Ali addressed himself to the task,
“And what can I do?” said the Maltese, from the corner in which he had ensconced himself.
“You, captain? you shall have the task of carrying the flag of truce if it be needful.”
At this instant Pascal Bruno saw the muskets of a second troop descending the mountain: they advanced in so direct a line towards the isolated olive-tree, at the foot of which lay the body of Placido, that it was evident it was the appointed place of rendezvous.
Those who marched first stumbled over the corpse. Upon this they formed a circle round it; but no one could recognise it, the teeth of Lionna had so much disfigured it; however, as it was at this olive-tree Placido had appointed a meeting, and as the body was at its foot, and no other living being in the neighbourhood, it was evident that the dead man was Placido himself.
The soldiers accordingly guessed that their plot had been discovered, and, consequently, that Bruno was on his guard; they, therefore, began to consider how they should act.
Pascal, standing at the window, watched all their movements; but the moon issuing suddenly from behind a cloud, a ray of light fell upon his figure, and one of the soldiers seeing him, pointed him out to his comrades.
“The bandit! the bandit!” was heard from all the troops, and a volley of shot was instantly poured in at the window.
A few of the balls flattened themselves against the wall, others whistled past the ears and over the head of the party at whom they were directed, and lodged in the mouldings of the ceiling.
Pascal replied by discharging four muskets in succession as they were handed to him by Ali: four men fell.