This man's father had been a bandit, whom, in the performance of his duty, years ago, the gendarme had shot.
Upon the bandit's death, his son had taken to the hills, vowing vengeance upon his father's murderer.
For years he had waited patiently for his victim, until this day, when he knew he must pass by alone.
Shot after shot pursued the gendarme from his hidden foe, until at length one pierced his neck, and laid him stiff upon the grass, where his dead body was found some time afterwards by a passer-by.
Tombs were scattered along the roadside beyond Olmeto here and there; and an avenue of young trees was planted for some way down the descent. The mountains were magnificent; and before us rose a peculiar, high, conical hill, rearing itself abruptly from the gorge, surmounted by a crag which bore the most extraordinary likeness to a ruined castle.
Peeps of blue sea shone out at our feet as we went lower and lower; and presently, turning a corner, the full wide sweep of the Gulf of Valinco, glittering in evening sunshine, opened out before us. Heavy white surf lined the red shore, and five or six good-sized charcoal vessels, trading to Italy, lay in the harbour.
Propriano gleamed white and pretty just above the sea, surrounded by its many little bays, as we dashed down the hill-side, through green country lanes, lined by wide hedges of brilliant purple vetch and ponderous prickly pear. Then, reaching the plain, we wound round the boggy, sandy shore, and mounted into the little narrow street of Propriano, full of shouting children and grunting pigs, up to the door of the Hôtel de France.
Very grand was the title of our inn, but not so grand its exterior, nor the dirty little staircase and ground floor. The upper storey, however, showed us a clean, airy, cheerful salle à manger, into which opened three little bedrooms of inviting appearance, and apparently irreproachable cleanliness. The muslin window curtains were crisp and new, the floors were swept, and the blankets, as well as the sheets, bore inspection. The washing basins, too, were much beyond the usual regulation size of a soup plate.
Whilst the good and cheap dinner was preparing, Nos. 2 and 3 took a turn up the little town, and scrambled out upon the sea-shore.
A lovely blood-red sunset showed off to advantage the purple range of hills opposite, with the Genoese tower at their furthest point, and cast deep shadows over the Col San Georgio, with its sparkling snow neighbours, and Olmeto lying on its flanks in sullen twilight. But it was impossible to enjoy any view with a pursuing crowd of yelling, mocking children at one's heels; and the usual scourge cut short our walk.