8. This man was a bandit,[14] who having set out at night to get some powder from the town, had fallen on the way into an ambush of Corsican soldiers.[15] After a vigorous defense he had succeeded in making his retreat, hotly pursued and skirmishing from rock to rock. But he had gained only a little on the soldiers, and his wound made it hopeless for him to reach the maquis before being overtaken.
9. He approached Fortunato and said to him:
Crisp dialogue gives feeling of intensity.
10. “You are the son of Mateo Falcone?”
11. “Yes.”
12. “I am Gianetto Sanpiero. I am pursued by the yellow collars.[16] Hide me, for I can go no further.”
13. “And what will my father say if I hide you without his permission?”
14. “He will say that you have done right.”
15. “How do you know?”
16. “Hide me quickly; they are coming.”