to
until assistance arrives from Rome?"

The peasant hesitated for an instant; then he said:

"My father lives at a short distance from here; he could shelter you if
he would, but he is in such terror of the bandits that, under the
circumstances, he would probably close his door against you."

"He need have no fear of the brigands in this case, for Luigi Vampa has
just given us a signal proof of his protection. Besides, he assured us
that he was our friend."

"This is singular, indeed," said the peasant, again hesitating. "Luigi
Vampa is a friend to but very few, and they are those with whom he is in
league. You certainly are not in league with him, or you would not have
killed Ludovico!"

"This is no time for parley," replied Esperance. "My friend is
suffering, and humanity alone should cause your father to receive him. I
will engage to appease Luigi Vampa's anger, should it be aroused; at the
worst, I pledge myself to surrender with my friend at the first summons
to do so, and to assure the brigand chief that your father is altogether
blameless. Come, can I not prevail upon you to be generous and humane?"

"Well," said the peasant, partially satisfied, "I will trust you, though
I am taking a great risk. Should Vampa be offended, he will burn our hut
over our heads and murder us all without pity. However, both your
wounded friend and yourself shall have such poor shelter as our humble
roof affords."

Giovanni was aided to arise, and, taking him between them, Esperance and
the peasant began their walk. Fortunately they did not have far to go,
otherwise the young Viscount's failing strength would have been unequal
to the task. They quitted the highway, plunging into a narrow footpath
closely wooded on either side; so thickly, in fact, did the tree
branches interlace overhead that the moonbeams were effectually excluded
and almost impenetrable darkness reigned. For an instant Esperance was
apprehensive of treachery, but this fear was dispelled when he thought
of the manly bearing of the youthful peasant and the dread of the
brigands he had expressed. The three could scarcely walk abreast in the
narrow pathway, and every now and then Giovanni stumbled against some
protruding root or other obstacle invisible in the obscurity; but the
peasant knew the road perfectly, and with no uncertain step hurried his
companions on as rapidly as possible.

Soon the path widened somewhat, the light commenced to sift through the