ess because I ventured on a solitary walk of a
mile or two in search of a sketch--an act of no great audacity on my
part, for I had walked through various parts of the country without
seeing a brigand, and found it difficult to realise that there was any
actual danger in strolling a mile from a moderately large town.

Emboldened by impunity, I was tempted one day to follow up a most
romantic glen in search of a sketch, when I came upon a remarkably
handsome peasant girl, driving a donkey before her loaded with wood.
My sudden appearance on the narrow path made the animal shy against
a projecting piece of rock, off which he rebounded to the edge of the
path, which, giving way, precipitated him and his load down the ravine.
He was brought up unhurt against a bush some twenty feet below, the
fagots of wood being scattered in his descent in all directions. For a
moment the girl's large, fierce eyes flashed upon me with anger; but the
impetuosity with which I went headlong after the donkey, with a view
of repairing my error, and the absurd attempts I made to reverse the
position of his feet, which were in the air, converted her indignation
into a hearty fit of laughter, as, seeing that the animal was apparently
uninjured, she scrambled down to my assistance. By our united efforts
we at last succeeded in hoisting the donkey up to the path, and then I
collected the wood and helped her to load it again--an operation which
involved a frequent meeting of hands and of the eyes, which had now lost
the ferocity that had startled me at first, and seemed getting more soft
and beaming every time I glanced at them, till at last, producing my
sketch-book, I ventured to remark, "Ah, signorina, what a picture you
would make! Now that the ass is loaded, let me draw you before we part,
that I may carry away the recollection of the loveliest woman I have
seen."

"First draw the donkey," she replied, "that I may carry away a
recollection of the _galantuomo_ who first upset him over the bank, and
then helped me to load him."

Smiling at this ambiguous compliment, I gave her the sketch she desired,
and was about to claim my reward, when she abruptly remarked:

"There is not time now; it is getting late, and I must not linger, as
I have still an hour to go before reaching home. How is it that you are
not afraid to be wandering in this solitary glen by yourself? Do you not
know the risks?"

"I have heard of them, but I do not believe in them,