sell it. But nothing could be farther from his thoughts. For a long
time a gun had been the young man's greatest ambition. In every
country where independence has taken the place of liberty, the
first desire of a manly heart is to possess a weapon, which at once
renders him capable of defence or attack, and, by rendering its
owner terrible, often makes him feared. From this moment Vampa
devoted all his leisure time to perfecting himself in the use of
his precious weapon; he purchased powder and ball, and everything
served him for a mark — the trunk of some old and moss-grown
olive-tree, that grew on the Sabine mountains; the fox, as he
quitted his earth on some marauding excursion; the eagle that
soared above their heads: and thus he soon became so expert, that
Teresa overcame the terror she at first felt at the report, and
amused herself by watching him direct the ball wherever he pleased,
with as much accuracy as if he placed it by hand.
"One evening a wolf emerged from a pine-wood hear which they
were usually stationed, but the wolf had scarcely advanced ten
yards ere he was dead. Proud of this exploit, Vampa took the dead
animal on his shoulders, and carried him to the farm. These
exploits had gained Luigi considerable reputation. The man of
superior abilities always finds admirers, go where he will. He was
spoken of as the most adroit, the strongest, and the most
courageous contadino for ten leagues around; and although Teresa
was universally allowed to be the most beautiful girl of the
Sabines, no one had ever spoken to her of love, because it was
known that she was beloved by Vampa. And yet the two young people
had never declared their affection; they had grown together like
two trees whose roots are mingled, whose branches intertwined, and
whose intermingled perfume rises to the heavens. Only their wish to
see each other had become a necessity, and they would have
preferred death to a day's separation. Teresa was sixteen, and
Vampa seventeen. About this time, a band of brigands that hadVampa seventeen. About this time, a band of brigands that had
established itself in the Lepini mountains began to be much spoken
of. The brigands have never been really extirpated from the
neighborhood of Rome. Sometimes a chief is wanted, but when a chief
presents himself he rarely has to wait long for a band of
followers.
"The celebrated Cucumetto, pursued in the Abruzzo, driven out of
the kingdom of Naples, where he had carried on a regular war, had
crossed the Garigliano, like Manfred, and had taken refuge on the
banks of the Amasine between Sonnino and Juperno. He strove to
collect a band of followers, and followed the footsteps of
Decesaris and Gasperone, whom he hoped to surpass. Many young men
of Palestrina, Frascati, and Pampinara had disappeared. Their
disappearance at first caused much disquietude; but it was soon
known that they had joined Cucumetto. After some time Cucumetto
became the object of universal attention; the most extraordinary
traits of ferocious daring and brutality were related of him. One
day he carried off a young girl, the daughter of a surveyor of
Frosinone. The bandit's laws are positive; a young girl belongs
first to him who carries her off, then the rest draw lots for her,
and she is abandoned to their brutality until death relieves her
sufferings. When their parents are sufficiently rich to pay a
ransom, a messenger is sent to negotiate; the prisoner is hostage
for the security of the messenger; should the ransom be refused,
the prisoner is irrevocably lost. The young girl's lover was in
Cucumetto's troop; his name was Carlini. When she recognized her
lover, the poor girl extended her arms to him, and believed herself
safe; but Carlini felt his heart sink, for he but too well knew the
fate that awaited her. However, as he was a favorite with
Cucumetto, as he had for three years faithfully served him, and as
he had saved his life by shooting a dragoon who was about to cut
him down, he hoped the chief would have pity on him. He tookhim down, he hoped the chief would have pity on him. He took
Cucumetto one side, while the young girl, seated at the foot of a
huge pine that stood in the centre of the forest, made a veil of
her picturesque head-dress to hide her face from the lascivious
gaze of the bandits. There he told the chief all — his affection
for the prisoner, their promises of mutual fidelity, and how every
night, since he had been near, they had met in some neighboring
ruins.
"It so happened that night that Cucumetto had sent Carlini to a
village, so that he had been unable to go to the place of meeting.
Cucumetto had been there, however, by accident, as he said, and had
carried the maiden off. Carlini besought his chief to make an
exception in Rita's favor, as her father was rich, and could pay a
large ransom. Cucumetto seemed to yield to his friend's entreaties,
and bade him find a shepherd to send to Rita's father at Frosinone.
Carlini flew joyfully to Rita, telling her she was saved, and
bidding her write to her father, to inform him what had occurred,
and that her ransom was fixed at three hundred piastres. Twelve
hours' delay was all that was granted — that is, until nine the
next morning. The instant the letter was written, Carlini seized
it, and hastened to the plain to find a messenger. He found a young
shepherd watching his flock. The natural messengers of the bandits
are the shepherds who live between the city and the mountains,
between civilized and savage life. The boy undertook the
commission, promising to be in Frosinone in less than an hour.
Carlini returned, anxious to see his mistress, and announce the
joyful intelligence. He found the troop in the glade, supping off
the provisions exacted as contributions from the peasants; but his
eye vainly sought Rita and Cucumetto among them. He inquired where
they were, and was answered by a burst of laughter. A cold
perspiration burst from every pore, and his hair stood on end. He
repeated his question. One of the bandits rose, and offered him a