CHAPTER XLV. THE HONOR OF THE FLAG
The new arrivals were received with surprise and pleasure by our forestparty. The signoras were all conversant with the history of Camilla'smisfortunes, and bestowed upon her gentle and considerate caresses.Something solemn pervaded her whole appearance--a dreamy vestige of theinsanity under which she had so long labored. It was a miraculouschange which had come over her when she heard that pathetic prayer, andperceived the sudden presence of her lover, and the unutterable feelingsof affection and penitence that stirred her soul when she found herselfrestored to his embrace had transformed her into a new and happy being,but left upon her this air of nameless pathos.
"I passed through Viterbo," said Silvio to Orazio, when theirsalutations were ended, "and saw a great commotion there for which I amscarcely able to account. The citizens were running about the streets,endeavoring to get out of the way of the soldiers. The soldiers,reinforced by strong detachments from Rome, are vowing to spear allItalians on the face of the earth, and, by way of a step towards thiswarlike project, have begun plundering the wineshops, where they lie forthe most part dead drunk. The Papal authorities, who wished to keep thepeace, were received by the rascals with the butt-ends of their muskets,and driven to flight. They have gone off with their agents to Rome,and are not likely to return for some time. The reinforcements wereexclaiming that 'their flag had been dishonored, and that the stain mustbe washed out in blood. 'Flag dishonored!' that phrase calls to ourmind the villainy of a certain neighboring Government, which, afterinfamously violating our territory, and taking, by a deceitful act,possession of our principal sea-port, treacherously attacked ourcapital, and upon receiving some severe blows, cried out, 'Treason!treason! our flag is dishonored!'
"But," said Silvio, resuming his narrative, "this confusion gave me afavorable opportunity of making observations, and coming on quietly toyou, though I might have been hindered by a curious occurrence whichhappened. I was passing the 'Full Moon' hotel as a few officers, newlyarrived from Rome, alighted from a carriage. Owing to the universalconfusion, they could find no attendant to carry in their luggage, andone of them came up to me, crying out, 'Here, you fellow!' and takingme by the breast, attempted to drag me to the carriage. Fortunately Ihad already signalled to Camilla to go on in advance of me. My firstimpulse was to use my poniard, but restraining myself, I tore the man'shand from my breast, and aiming a blow with my fist full at his face,sent him flying against the wheels of the carriage without a singleword. As you may imagine, I did not remain to gather the laurels ofthe victory, but turned on my heel, and walked with a quick step in thedirection of the wood, and soon overtook my companion."
The merriment of his auditors, and the shouts of "Bravo, Silvio!" hereinterrupted the narrator for a moment.
"However," he observed, when the laughter ceased, "we can not remainlong here in security, for I have no doubt that to-morrow, at latest,you will have the whole pack of foreigners on your track."
"Here in this forest," said Orazio, "we could make head against thewhole army of the Pope. Were it not that we are so very few in number,and have these precious ladies to protect."
"Ehi! ladies to protect, indeed!" said Irene with some irony; "you havesoon forgotten, Signor Rodomonte, that these same 'ladies' protected youto-day."
A burst of laughter broke from all; and the courageous chief of theforest stooped and kissed the hand of his beloved wife with prettysubmission.
Meanwhile, the long dark shadows cast by the giants of the Ciminianwood spreading out to the west, announced the setting of the sun, who,wrapped in a glorious and variegated mantle of clouds, was about to hidehimself behind the waves of the Tyrrhenian sea. Clelia, perceiving this,addressed Jack, who, fascinated by her beauty and amiability, was herdevoted slave, and to whom she had confided the important care of theviands. "Well, my friend," she said in English, "all these true heroesof romance, it appears, do not trouble themselves about supper; and ifyou do not see to it, I fear we shall have to go to bed without foodto-night."
"Aye, aye, ma'am!" was Jack's reply; and, with the invariable hitch tohis waistband, he steered for the spot where the assistants had unloadedtwo mules, which carried the chief's baggage as well as the provisions.But, after such fighting and talk, they must feast at leisure in a freshchapter.