Spain -- History -- Carlist War, 1833-1840 -- Fiction
Rollo set the Princess on the ground, bidding her watch by the door and
tell him if any one came in sight. But the little girl, not yet
recovered from her fright, clung to his coat and pled so piteously to be
allowed to stay with him, that he could not insist. First of all he
groped all around the light cane-wattled walls of Pedro's hut for any
garment which might serve to disguise him. For though Rollo's garments
were by no means gay, they were at least of somewhat more fashionable
cut than was usual among the gipsies and their congeners.
After a little Rollo found the old cowherd's milking-blouse stuffed in
an empty corn-chest among scraps of harness, bits of rope, nails, broken
gardening-tools, and other collections made by the Piebald One in the
honest exercise of his vocation. He pulled the crumpled old garment out
and donned it without scruple. His own _sombrero_, much the worse for
wear and weather, served well enough, with the brim turned down, to give
the young man the appearance of a peasant turned brigand for the nonce.
His next business was to conceal the little girl in order that they
might have a chance of passing the gipsy picket at the gates, and of
escaping chance questionings by the way.
Rollo therefore continued to search in the darkness till he had
collected two large bundles, one of chopped straw, and the other of hay,
which he stuffed into the panniers, in the larger of which he meant to
find room also for the Princess. Once settled, a sheet was thrown over
her shoulders, and the hay lightly scattered over all. Then she was
ordered to lie down and to keep especially still if she should hear any
one speak to her companion. And so naturally did the little girl take to
secrecy and adventure that after having assured herself of Rollo's
kindness, not a murmur passed her lips.
On the contrary, she promised all careful obedience, and it was no great
while before they set out, making so bold as to pass once more by her
own private kitchen. For Rollo had resolved to take possession of some
of the silver utensils, that he might have somewhat wherewith to satisfy
plunderers if they should chance to be stopped, and the ass's burdens in
danger of being too closely examined.
They found the silver vessels and pans lying where they had been piled
outside the door. Apparently no one had been near them. One of the
gipsies, however, who had been wounded, still lay groaning without,
cursing the cravens who had left him and fled at a couple of pistol
shots. But the other, he who had first been dealt with by Rollo's
bullet out of the cane-brake, gave no sign. He lay still, shot through
the heart, the torture-cord still in his hand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account