The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-05

ed myself-for that was the hour. as
had been carefdl to ascertain, when the
prisoners were to start for Foggia. 1
opened the window about three inches,
and fixed it there; took out my gun, put
eight balls in it, and looked down upon
the square. 1t was crowded with the
country people in their bright-colored cos
tunes. chaffering over their produce.
looked above them to the tall campanile
of the church which filed one side of the
square. l receded step and adjusted
my gun on the ledge of the window to
my entire satisfaction. / then looked
down the street in which the prison was
situated, and which debouched on the
square and waited events. At 10. min
utes past 10 l saw the soldiers at the
door of the prison form up. and then I
knew that the 20 prisoners of whom they
formed the escort were starting: but
at the big bell in the campanile, which
responded with a loud clang. Ali the peo-
pie in the square looked up. As the
prisoners entered the square, which they
had to cross in its whole breadth, / fired
again and again. The bell banged twice,
and the people began to buzz about.
Now, l thought, l must let the old bell
have it. By the time five more balls had
struck the bell with a resounding din, the
miracle was evidently in progress, or the
campanile was bewitched. People began
to run hither and thither; all the soldiers
forming the escort gaped open-mOuthed
at the steeple as the clangor continued.
As soon as the last shot had been fred,
l looked down into the square and saw
all this. and 1 saw that the prisoners
were attempting to escape. and in more
than one instance had succeeded, for the
soldiers began to scatter in pursuit. and
the country people to form themselves
into impeding crowds, as though by ac-
cident, but nowhere could l see Valera.
When / was quite sure she had escaped.
l went down and joined the crowd
saw three prisoners captured and brought
command how many had escaped, he said
three-Croppo's wife, the priest, and an
other.
When l met my cavalry friends at din
ner that evening. it was amusing to hear
them speculate upon the remarkable oc-
currence which had, in fact. upset the
wits of the whole town. Priests and
vergers and sacristans had visited the
campanile. and one of them had brought
away fattened piece of lead, which
looked as if it might have been bullet;
but the suggestion that eight bullets
could have hit the bell in succession
without anybody hearing a shot. was
treated with ridicule. 1 believe the bell
was subsequently exercised with holy
water. l was afraid to remain with the
regiment with my air gun after this, lest
some one should discover it. and unravel
the mystery; besides. 1 felt sort of
| traitor to the brave friends who had SO
generously offered me their hospitality.
so l invented urgent private affairs.
which demanded my immediate return TO
Naples, and on the morning of my de-
parture found myself embraced by all
the officers of the regiment. from the
Colonel downwards. who, in the fervor of
their kisses. thrust 10 waxed moustache-
points against my cheeks.
About 10 months after this. | heard of
the capture and execution of Croppo. and
l knew that Valeria was free; but l had
unexpectedly inherited Il property. and
was engaged to be married. l am now
country gentleman with a large family.
My sanctum is stocked with various me
mentoes of my youthful adventures. but
none awakens in me such thrilling memo
ries as are excited by the breyiary of the
brigand priest. and the portrait Of the
brigand's. bride.