d by his men,
charged the building, from which a hot fire was playing upon them, sword
in hand. In less than a quarter of an hour the brigands were scampering,
some on foot and some on horseback, out of the farm buildings, followed
by a few stray and harmless shots from such of the volunteers as had
their hands free. We lost three men killed and five wounded in this
little skirmish, and killed six of the brigands, besides making a dozen
prisoners. When I say "we" I mean my companions, for, having no weapon,
I had discreetly remained with the volunteers. The scene of this gallant
exploit was on the classic battle-field of Cannae. This captain, who was
not the friend I had joined the day after my brigand adventure, was a
most plucky and dashing cavalry officer, and was well seconded by his
men, who were all Piedmontese and of a very different temperament from
the Neapolitans. On one occasion a band of 250 brigands waited for us on
the top of a small hill, never dreaming that we should charge up it with
the odds five to one against us; but we did, and after firing a volley
at us, which emptied a couple of saddles, they broke and fled when we
were about twenty yards from them. Then began one of the most exciting
scurries across country it was ever my fortune to be engaged in. The
brigands scattered--so did we; and I found myself with two troopers in
chase of a pair of bandits, one of whom seemed to be the chief of the
band. A small stream wound through the plain, which we dashed across.
Just beyond was a tributary ditch, which would have been considered a
fair jump in the hunting-field: both brigands took it in splendid style.
The hindmost was not ten yards ahead of the leading trooper, who came
a cropper; on which the brigand reined up, fired a pistol-shot into the
prostrate horse and man, and was off; but the delay cost him dear. The
other trooper, who was a little ahead of me, got safely over. I followed
suit. In another moment he had fired his carabine into the brigand's
horse, and down they both came by the run. We instantly reined up, for
I saw there was no chance of overtaking the remaining brigand, and the
trooper was in the act of cutting down the man as he struggled to his
feet, when to my horror I recognised the lovely features of--Valeria.

"Stay, man!" I shouted, throwing myself from my horse. "It's a woman!
touch her if you dare!" And then, seeing the man's eye gleam with
indignation, I added, "Brave soldiers,