"Don"t go far, boys," said the Senator, in the tone of an anxious father.
"No, not very. That hill yonder will be a good lookout place."
"Yes, if you are not seen yourselves."
"We"ll risk that. If we see any signs of these scoundrels, and find that they see us, we will fire to let you know. If we remain undiscovered we will come back quietly."
"Very well. But I don"t like to let you go off alone, my boys; it"s too much of an exposure."
"Nonsense."
"I have a great mind to go too."
"No, no, you had better stay to hold our place of retreat. We"ll come back, you know."
"Very well, then."
The Senator sat himself down again, and b.u.t.tons and d.i.c.k vanished among the trees. An hour pa.s.sed; the three in the barricade began to feel uneasy; the prisoners were asleep and snoring.
"Hang it," cried the Senator, "I wish I had gone with them!"
"Never fear," said the Doctor, "they are too nimble to be caught just yet. If they had been caught you"d have heard a little firing."
At that very moment the loud report of a rifle burst through the air, followed by a second; upon which a whole volley poured out. The three started to their feet.
"They are found!" cried the Senator. "It"s about a mile away. Be ready."
Mr. Figgs had two rifles by his side, and sat looking at the distance with knitted brows. He had received some terrific bruises in the late melee, but was prepared to fight till he died. He had said but little through the day. He was not talkative. His courage was of a quiet order. He felt the solemnity of the occasion. It was a little different from sitting at the head of a Board of bank directors, or shaving notes in a private office. At the end of about ten minutes there was a crackling among the bushes. b.u.t.tons and d.i.c.k came tumbling down into the road.
"Get ready! Quick. They"re here!"
"All ready."
"All loaded?"
"Yes."
"We saw them away down the road, behind a grove of trees. We couldn"t resist, and so fired at them. The whole band leaped up raving, and saw us, and fired. They then set off up the road to this place, thinking that we are divided. They"re only a few rods away."
"How many are there of them?"
"Fourteen."
"They must have got some more. There were only ten able-bodied, unwounded men when they left."
"Less," said the Doctor; "my pistol--"
"H"st!"
At this moment they heard the noise of footsteps. A band of armed men came in sight. Halting cautiously, they examined the barricade.
Bang! It was the Doctor"s revolver. Down went one fellow, yelling.
The rest were frantic. Like fools, they made a rush at the barricade.
Bang! a second shot, another wounded. A volley was the answer. Like fools, the brigands fired against the barricade. No damage was done.
The barricade was too strong.
The answer to this was a withering volley from the Americans. The bandits reeled, staggered, fell back, shrieking, groaning, and cursing. Two men lay dead on the road. The others took refuge in the woods.
For two hours an incessant fire was kept up between the bandits in the woods and the Americans in their retreat. No damage was done on either side.
"Those fellows try so hard they almost deserve to lick us," said the Senator dryly.
Suddenly there came from afar the piercing blast of a trumpet.
"Hark!" cried b.u.t.tons.
Again.
A cavalry trumpet!
"They are hors.e.m.e.n!" cried d.i.c.k, who was holding his ear to the ground; and then added:
"[Transcriber"s Note: Greek Transliteration] ippon m okupodon amphi ktupos ouata ballei [/end Greek]."
"Hey?" cried the Senator; "water barley?"
Again the sound. A dead silence. All listening.
And now the tramp of horses was plainly heard. The firing had ceased altogether since the first blast of the trumpet. The bandits disappeared. The hors.e.m.e.n drew nearer, and were evidently quite numerous. At last they burst upon the scene, and the little garrison greeted them with a wild hurrah. They were French dragoons, about thirty in number. Prominent among them was Pietro, who at first stared wildly around, and then, seeing the Americans, gave a cry of joy.
The travellers now came out into the road, and quick and hurried greetings were interchanged. The commander of the troop, learning that the bandits had just left, sent off two-thirds of his men in pursuit, and remained with the rest behind.
Pietro had a long story to tell of his own doings. He had wandered through the forest till he came to Perugia. The commandant there listened to his story, but declined sending any of his men to the a.s.sistance of the travellers. Pietro was in despair.
Fortunately a small detachment of French cavalry had just arrived at Perugia on their way to Rome and the captain was more merciful.
The gallant fellow at once set out, and, led by Pietro, arrived at the place most opportunely.
It did not take long to get the coach ready again. One horse was found to be so badly wounded that it had to be killed. The others were slightly hurt. The baggage and trunks were riddled with bullets. These were once more piled up, the wounded prisoners placed inside, and the travellers, not being able to get in all together, took turns in walking.
At the next town the prisoners were delivered up to the authorities.
The travellers celebrated their victory by a grand banquet, to which they invited the French officer and the soldiers, who came on with them to this town. Uproar prevailed. The Frenchmen were exuberant in compliments to the gallantry of their entertainers. Toasts followed.
"The Emperor and President!"
"America and France!"
"Tricolor and stars!"
"The two countries intertwined!"