Dismayed at the horrible living tomb which had so suddenly engulphed the hunchback, Lancelloti shrank back; and I leaned against the carriage overcome with my own emotions. The wind was dying away: the heavy pine branches hung down motionless. One voice alone broke the stillness; it was that of the Scottish serjeant who prayed devoutly. Though as brave a fellow as ever drew sword, he was terrified at that moment.
We soon heard the galloping of hoofs, and the decurione, with the ten sbirri, came back; upon which Lancelloti and his company disappeared and we saw them no more that night.
"The carriage horses?" I inquired.
"O, signor! they have all rushed over the cliffs of Palmi and perished in the sea!" replied the breathless sbirro.
"Bianca," I exclaimed, "O God, what a fate you have escaped! Signor decurione, never can I sufficiently reward you for desiring the horses to be unharnessed so soon!" I shook the hand of the sbirro, while my heart sank at the contemplation of what might have happened.
It was long ere Bianca recovered from the horrors of that night; which, indeed, were such as might have shaken a stouter heart than that of the gentle Italian girl.
We reached Seminara with great difficulty, dragging the calesso by the saddle horses; but on obtaining mules at the Greek abbey, we again set out for Scylla, viâ Bagnara: where soon afterwards I had a sharp encounter with the voltigeurs of the 23d regiment (French).
CHAPTER IX.
A MILITARY HONEYMOON.
On the day after assuming my command at Scylla, I ordered out the little garrison in heavy marching order, and found it to consist of picked young fellows of my own regiment, 250 file, with five officers. This small party, with the garrisons at Reggio and Crotona, Amanthea and Monteleone, formed the whole force left in Calabria, with orders to defend their several posts to the last extremity. The last four places were held by Italians alone.