Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-11-12
ALARIC;
OR, THE TYRANTs VAULT.


was the metropolis of all Sicily, an object Of
longing TO ambitious conquerors, and one of
the finest cities in the world not far from
this place, upon the shore of the sea, stood
man who had Just landed from vessel that
was now sailing away towards the North
lie was quite young-not over fyo-and- TWEEN
ty--tall and well proportional with mus
cular system finely developed and posses
sing a face not only striking in its manly
beauty, but remarkable, in one so young, for
its stern, resolute and self-reliant expression.
His dress was light and simple, and evidently
of Greek manufacture; the lower limbs being
clothed in close-htting goat-skn, above which
he wore a shirt of white linen, confined at
the waist bv q belt of fine mail Upon his
head was % cap of woven stuff the top droop-
ing over the right ear and his feet were
shielded by pair of sandals. His only weap-
on was a short, heavy sword, which hung, in
leathorn scabbard, from his belt Of mail
lie stood for awhile gazing about, as though
undecided what course he should pursue
but finally he ospied an old fisherman not far
of, who had just come down upon the beach,
and towards him he made his way.
"a bright pleasant morning, good sir,
said the youth.
The old man cast his net from his shoulders
and gazod up lie carefully scanned the tea-
lures before him, and then replied:
Aye, fair sir, Il is pleasant morning
We have many such on this coast
And yet it storms sometimes, | suppose
suggested the first speaker.
"He is a wise man who little needs the
storms he cannot quel, said the fisherman,
with nod of the heed which seemed to give
his words more meaning than the circumstan-
ccs under which they were spoken would inn
ply
"Nou are right there, responded the other.
but tell nowhere can find Artabanus,
the hermit Z"
The fisherman took another careful look into
his interocutors face. and then answered
"Ie lives upon yonder mountain, which is
called Catalano. Do You wish to see him -
Yes
Then follow the path that leads to yonder
cot until it brings you to small stream
Cross that, and then upon your right hinl
you will SEQ beaten track. lie lives in
cave near the top of the mountain and this
track will lead you directly thithcr.'
The young man thanked his informant, and
was upon the point of turning away, when
the latter resumed
IL mean no offence. Your face looks ia-
mi,iar 1t has the cast of a couutenance !
lancied l had seen before
"YouN at least remember of having seen
such an one on this morning. said the young
man and as he thus spoke he turned away.
Aye, mutiercd the old Sicilan half to
himself but yet loud enough to reach other
cars and call on Neptune to witness that
have seen it before. Such faces are not
uluplied-they are not plenty in Syracuse
these times Alas more's the pity
The youth hesitated a moment, as though
he would turn back, but he overcamc the dis
position. and kept on. When he had begun
to ascend the mountain, he stopped and look
ed behind him, and saw that the fisherman
was already upon the water.
Can it be-, he said to himself, that my
face Is SO little changed think | remem-
Der that old man, for he has spread his nets
long in these waters but how should he
remember me? pray the gods that there
be not many in Syracuse that will yet be so
(ohseryant.'
with Tins, the traveller kept on up the
mountain until he had reached broad table
OF rock irom whence he could see the bay
and the city beyond The great metropolis
was spread out before him, with its massive
walls us temples and ITS palaces and a teaI
started down his check as he uaZcd uDOn the