Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 2).djvu/125

Rh Vampa took this wild road, which, inclosed between two ridges, and shadowed by the tufted umbrage of the pines, seemed, but for the absence of the facilis descensus, that path to Avernus of which Virgil speaks. Teresa had become alarmed at the wild and deserted look of the place, and pressed closely against her guide, not uttering a syllable; but as she saw him advance with even step and composed countenance, she endeavored to repress her emotion.

"Suddenly, about ten paces from them, a man advanced from behind a tree and aimed at Vampa.

"'Not another step,' he said, 'or you are a dead man.'

"'What then!' said Vampa, raising his hand with a gesture of disdain, whilst Teresa, no longer able to restrain her alarm, clung closely to him; 'do wolves rend each other?'

"'Who are you?' inquired the sentinel.

"'I am Luigi Vampa, shepherd of the farm of San-Felice.'

"'What do you want?'

"'I would speak with your companions who are in the recess at Rocca Biaiica.'

"'Follow me, then,' said the sentinel; 'or, as you know your way, go first.'

"Vampa smiled disdainfully at this precaution of the bandit, went before Teresa, and continued to advance with the same firm and easy step as before. At the end of ten minutes the bandit made them a sign to stop. The two young persons obeyed. Then the bandit thrice imitated the cry of a crow; a croak answered this signal.

"'Good!' said the sentry; 'you may now advance.'

"Luigi and Teresa again set forward; as they advanced, Teresa clung tremblingly to her lover, as she saw through the trees arms appear and the barrels of carbines shine. The clearing of Rocca Bianca was at the top of a small mountain, which no doubt in former days had been a volcano an extinct volcano before the days when Remus and Romulus had deserted Alba to found the city of Rome.

"Teresa and Luigi reached the summit, and all at once found them selves in the presence of twenty bandits.

"'Here is a young man who seeks and wishes to speak to you,' said the sentinel.

'"What has he to say?' inquired the young man who was in com mand in the chiefs absence.

"'I wish to say that I am tired of a shepherd's life,' was Vampa's reply.

'"Ah, I understand,' said the lieutenant; 'and you seek admittance into our ranks?'