Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-12-29
FTOm Lhe NeW YOfk Dutchman
THE BANDIT NOBLE.
"A Tale of Venice i'm the Sixteenth
Century.
CHAPTER L.
By MARY W. JANvRIN.

.CoME, comrades, let us be merry men tonight
drink freely! By the mass! /! this is right excel
lent wine; All your goblets to the brim, and with
me, drink to the health of the Count Trevorra's
beautiful daughter!''
sAye, brimming becker to the fairest of al
Venice's high-born ladies-to the peerless Lucre-
zia Trevorra!' exclaimed hundred voices, as the
bandits raised the golden cups to their lips, drained
them to the bottom, and dashed them down again
with noisy yehemence on the festal board.
A spacious and commodious banqueting hall,
was that of those Italian banditti. A deep, dark
CAVERN IN the heart of dense forest, with sun
beam penetrating through its massive, rocky walls
lit would have seemed more like gloomy pris-
on than festal hall, but for the dazzling light
Shed from the chandeliers suspended from the
rocky roof. A table was spread the length of the
hall, around which scores of sturdy, athletic but
fierce and rude looking men, were now lazily re-
clining on eouches.s Well cooked viands and
fagons of sparkling wine were before them. The
plate was ofthe richest description. Superb dishes
ofthe costiest and rarest workmanship, inlaid and
ornamented with precious stones; golden goblets,
richly chased, and vases of finest procelain, were
scattered about; giving evidence by this lavish dis
play that the wealth and nobility of Venice were
the foremost among those whom the bandits had
relieved of their superfuous riches.
A loud shout arose to the arehed roof of the
cavern, and then died away, the men dashed
down their goblets. momentary silence ensued,
broken only by the ringing glass and the clatter
of metallic dishes, when Martin Monadi, the first
speaker again exclaimed-
=" 'Tis time Our chief were returned-he tarries
long in the city tonight. Holy Mary! grant that
no evil betide hirn--that old Trevorra may not
discover him! for know you, brave comrades, that
our chief has of late been more charmed by the
bright eyes of Sighora Lucrezia, than all the jew
els that sparkle in the ducal TERRA and I'll wager
ducat that his gondola is now moored under the
windows of the Palace Trevorra, and that he lin
gers there to sing some gallant roundelay, full
oftener than many of the young Venetian mobiles
who are suing for the hand of the peerless lady.
By the mass comrades, 'twere pity for some
accursed spy of the Inqusition to step in just now
and spoil the wooing of SO brave lover and SO
fair lady.'
SHAY, have no fear for our brave captain said
an old grey haired, and stalwart man. who sat at
the farthest end of the table, and who quafed the
rich red wine in large draughts, and then smacked
his lips as he drained the last drop from the cup,
-1ehave no fears for our chief. Why, even I, old
as am, would defy the eagle eyes Of old Trevor
ra-the prying emissaries of the Council of Ten
lay, the daggers of all Venice's mobiles, but to
catch glimpse of the Signora's bright eyes, and
surely all these dangers are but as the idle wind
blowing to our brave captain, when he not only
catches glimpses of bright eyes, but hears the
sweetest of all voices in addition thereto"
!" Bravo! bravo!" said the bandits, as the last
speaker, becoming excited with his theme-the
praise Of his chef-raised still higher his voice
ssfor more than fifty years of my life have been
free royer-the faithful follower of many brave
chiefs, and risked danger and discovery in thou
sand forms-but never saw one yet whom I wo'd
be more willing to follow to the DEATH than Carlo
Bardirs
SAY, three cheers for our noble chief!'' and
again loud shouts rang wildly out and echoed back
from the old cavern walls; but hardly had the
sound died away, ere the shrill notes of bugle
rose on the air. Peal followed peal in quick sue
cession.
ssCarlo has returned!" exclaimed several of the
men; and quickly trap door was raised, and pro-
ceeding down a fight of stone stairs and through
a narrow subterranean passage, they cautiously
withdrew the iron bolt of door, and gave their
chief admittance.