next stop in the dance, heedless of the frowns of her previous partner, and of her father and mother, who did not approve of a stranger's attentions, he placed himself before her.

Had the young creature acted as propriety required, for strange as it may appear, the peasantry of Italy have very strict notions on that head, she would have refused to dance with a man unknown to her, even though at a public festival; but she was fascinated by Mangone's ardent gaze, and perhaps felt already, although all unconscious of it, that mysterious influence which will not allow a being passionately loved, not to love again.* The robber, be it remembered, as something relevant, was a handsome man, and the southern temperament is generally waked into passion by an object at once, or never.

With one momentary, deprecating look at her displeased parents, the innocent creature responded to the animated motions of Mangone; and if ever a dance could express, or favour and forward the passion of love, it is assuredly the tarantella! For some time the maiden, as the forms of the dance required, and as the feelings of her heart would have dictated, moved at a distance from her partner; then by degrees she approached him, or permitted his approach; then with pretty coquetry she bounded back from him, and danced again afar off;

* Amor ch' a nullo amato amar perdona.-Dante. L'Inferno.

then she came nearer-nearer than before then again glided from him. After this alternation of fond advance and coy retreat, the maiden, as if vanquished, sank on her knee, and the triumphant Mangone danced round her; but bounding from the ground the next minute, and clapping her hands together as if in joyful defiance, she renewed the coquetry and the dance until her partner dropped on his knee at her feet, and she finished the tarantella by dancing round him in her turn.

Whilst kneeling at her feet, the enamoured bandit whispered some fond words, caught by no ear save that of the young Nicoletta. Whatever they were, they were evidently effective. When the dance was over,

Mangone went back to his comrades, who had all now come to the spot. They procured and discussed some of the choice refreshments the place afforded; but while he partook of them, Mangone joined not the merry remarks and hearty laughs of his fellows, and never took his eye from her, who he had sworn already should be his love-mate or his victim.

In the course of the afternoon, Benedetto, in spite of some opposition, contrived to dance another tarantella with Nicoletta, and to pour more words of passion and temptation into her innocent ear. He learned from her, moreover, the village she belonged to, and the road she was to take homeward. This was all the information he required; and having obtained it, he despatched one of his trusty band to bring round

horses, and to await him at a certain point at the mountain's base.

At the approach of evening, the festive parties began to break up from the holy, but most jocund spot, and to take their separate roads to their frequently distant homes, whence they had started the preceding night, with the discharge of fireworks and long-echoing acclamations, for the mountain-shrine of the blessed Virgin. Their retreat was picturesque, and otherwise impressive. Long troops were seen, marching two by two, down the steep and narrow mountain paths; they chaunted a hymn to the Madonna as they went. A few flaunting banners were distributed along their lines; and their slowly-moving figures, the rough mountain top, and wooded or rocky bare sides, the white sanctuary high over all, the rapid tolling of the church bell, and the mingling sounds of hundreds and hundreds of voices, produced altogether the most romantic effect.

Benedetto Mangone, with his comrades, mingled with one of these troops, closely following the fair Nicoletta, until the descent of the mountain was performed, and the plain, traversed by numerous diverging paths, was before them. They did not go much further with the peaceful peasants, for at the point fixed they found the messenger and several others of Mangone's robbers armed to the teeth, waiting with a horse for each of them.

The peasants were thrown into consternation; the

women screamed ;-but Nicoletta, who little suspected the part he had in this sudden and alarming apparition, instinctively rushed to her bold-looking admirer,—to the handsome stranger,- -to Mangone himself,-for protection.

"Fear not, my sweet one! it is pleasanter and fitter for pretty feet like thine to ride than to walk; this is only an escort for thee, and this thy steed," said Mangone, bending his face to hers. The next moment his arm was round her waist, and he had leaped into his saddle with the maiden, who had screamed and fainted, before him; and the movements of his companions being almost as quick, they at once cantered from the peasants, among whom the bereaved parents of Nicoletta shrieked and tore their hair with the wildest demonstrations of grief.

For a quarter of an hour the robbers rode at a rapid pace; but being then far away from the villagers, and at the foot of a mountain they had to cross, they relaxed their speed, and Mangone stopping for a few minutes, attended to his fair burthen. Nicoletta recovered her senses, but her alarm was extreme, and she piteously begged to know who he was that had such a command of men and of horses, and whither he was carrying her, away from her father and her dear mother.

"I am not what I seem," said Benedetto; "instead of this poor labourer's attire, I can clothe myself in the noble's mantle, or the cavalier's inlaid armour, and I

am carrying thee where I will deck that pretty head and neck of thine with gold and jewels, such as few princesses possess, an' thou wilt but love me!"

"I did love thee but now," said the artless girl, "but tell me who—what art thou?" and as waiting for his reply she gazed on his face which indeed wore the touching expressions of love, and love for her, she felt her own impetuous feeling revive in spite of her fears and affliction.

"Whatever I may be, I will be thy fond lover, thy husband, an' thou wilt," said the bandit-" there! cheer thee, and tremble no more! is not wealth better than poverty ease and luxury, where others shall do thy every bidding, better than hard labour and subjection? my love better than "—

"True, true," interrupted the maiden; "but how is that wealth acquired? and-Oh tell me! who art thou?"

"The wealth," he replied, "is the bleeding of our oppressors, and I am

"Benedetto Mangone! why loiterest thou? brave captain, our road is long," exclaimed one of the banditti, who were all impatient to reach their homes.

"Mangone! —dost thou answer to that dreadful name, thou so gentle ?”—wildly inquired the poor girl. "For want of a better, I do," replied the robber composedly.

The maiden again screamed and fainted, and when