After some few minutes, one ventured to break the awesome silence.
"How did he die?"
The brigand's wife turned from her questioner with a shudder.
"Ask me nothing yet. I am not able to speak of that at present; give me time to conquer this weakness."
"If I ask, it is that I may seek vengeance upon his destroyer," said Tomaso, the speaker.
Her eyes sparkled, and the colour rushed into her pale cheek at the word. "Vengeance—aye, vengeance. Well spoken, my bold Tomaso; vengeance is something to live for, after all; vengeance we'll have too. We'll glut ourselves with it; a feast of vengeance we'll have." "We will, we will!" shouted the brigands, as though with one single voice.
"These English and these Americans shall die."
"They shall!"
"We'll exterminate them, root and branch."
"Aye, aye."