So they now marched forth,--
Men with scythes.
do. " hoes.
do. " rakes.
do. " shovels.
do. " tongs.
do. " brooms.
do. " bean-poles.
do. " carving-knives.
do. " umbrellas.
do. " stones.
do. " earthen pans.
do. " bricks.
do. " charcoal.
do. " chairs.
do. " spits.
do. " bed-posts.
do. " crowbars.
do. " augers.
do. " spades.
do. " stakes.
do. " clubs.
Men with staves,
do. " opera-glasses.
do. " sickles.
do. " colters.
do. " ploughshares.
do. " wheelbarrows.
do. " pitchforks.
do. " posts.
do. " beams.
do. " bolts.
do. " bars.
do. " hinges.
do. " pokers.
do. " saucepans.
do. " mallets.
do. " hammers.
do. " saws.
do. " chisels.
do. " ropes.
do. " chains.
do. " grappling irons.
together with a miscellaneous collection of articles
snatched up at a moment's warning by an excited
multitude, men, women, and children, headed by
Frank, who wielded triumphantly an old fowling-piece,
loaded with a double charge, that could do
no damage to any one save the daring individual
that might venture to discharge it.
CHAPTER XXVII.
_Arma Virumque cano!--The Chase of the Wild Boar!--The Prisoners
at the Window.--The Alban Army.--Wild Uproar.--Three hundred and
sixty-five Pocket Handkerchiefs.--Flame.--Smoking out the
Monster.--A Salamander._
Arma puerosque cano!
Sing, O muse, the immortal Albanian Boar Hunt!
How outside the doomed town of Albano lurked the mighty monster in
his lair.
How the frightened messengers roused the people to action.
How the whole population, stimulated to deeds of bold emprise,
grasped each the weapon that lay nearest, whether bolt, or bar, or
tool of mechanic, or implement of husbandry, and then, joining
their forces, went forth to do battle against the Fell Destroyer.
How the pallid victims, imprisoned in the topmost tower, gazed with
staring eyes upon the mighty delivering host, and shouted out
blessings upon their heads.
How the sight of the pallid victims cheered the bold deliverers,
and drew them nearer to the lair of the monster.
And so forth.
Very well.
To resume.
Stationed at the window, David and Clive saw their friends vanish
in the direction of Albano, and knew that they had gone for help.
This thought so cheered them, that in spite of a somewhat protracted
absence, they bore up well, and diversified the time between
watchings at the window, and listenings at the head of the ladder.
From the window nothing was visible for a long time; but from the
head of the ladder there came up at intervals such sounds as
indicated that the fierce wild boar was still as restless, as
ruthless, as hungry, and as vigilant as ever.