A Sicilian Romance

After some little consideration, Hippolitus judged it most prudent to

seek an outlet through the passage by which he entered; he therefore

took the lamp, and led Julia to the door. They entered the avenue, and

locking the door after them, sought the flight of steps down which the

count had before passed; but having pursued the windings of the avenue

a considerable time without finding them, he became certain he had

mistaken the way. They, however, found another flight, which they

descended and entered upon a passage so very narrow and low, as not to

admit of a person walking upright. This passage was closed by a door,

which on examination was found to be chiefly of iron. Hippolitus was

startled at the sight, but on applying his strength found it gradually

yield, when the imprisoned air rushed out, and had nearly extinguished

the light. They now entered upon a dark abyss; and the door which

moved upon a spring, suddenly closed upon them. On looking round they

beheld a large vault; and it is not easy to imagine their horror on

discovering they were in a receptacle for the murdered bodies of the

unfortunate people who had fallen into the hands of the banditti.

The count could scarcely support the fainting spirits of Julia; he ran

to the door, which he endeavoured to open, but the lock was so

constructed that it could be moved only on the other side, and all his

efforts were useless. He was constrained, therefore, to seek for

another door, but could find none. Their situation was the most

deplorable that can be imagined; for they were now inclosed in a vault

strewn with the dead bodies of the murdered, and must there become the

victims of famine, or of the sword. The earth was in several places

thrown up, and marked the boundaries of new-made graves. The bodies

which remained unburied were probably left either from hurry or

negligence, and exhibited a spectacle too shocking for humanity. The

sufferings of Hippolitus were increased by those of Julia, who was

sinking with horror, and who he endeavoured to support to apart of the

vault which fell into a recess--where stood a bench.

They had not been long in this situation, when they heard a noise

which approached gradually, and which did not appear to come from the

avenue they had passed.

The noise increased, and they could distinguish voices. Hippolitus

believed the murderers were returned; that they had traced his

retreat, and were coming towards the vault by some way unknown to him.

He prepared for the worst--and drawing his sword, resolved to defend

Julia to the last. Their apprehension, however, was soon dissipated

by a trampling of horses, which sound had occasioned his alarm, and

which now seemed to come from a courtyard above, extremely near the

vault. He distinctly heard the voices of the banditti, together with

the moans and supplications of some person, whom it was evident they

were about to plunder. The sound appeared so very near, that

Hippolitus was both shocked and surprised; and looking round the

vault, he perceived a small grated window placed very high in the

wall, which he concluded overlooked the place where the robbers were

assembled. He recollected that his light might betray him; and

horrible as was the alternative, he was compelled to extinguish it. He

now attempted to climb to the grate, through which he might obtain a

view of what was passing without. This at length he effected, for the

ruggedness of the wall afforded him a footing. He beheld in a ruinous

court, which was partially illuminated by the glare of torches, a

group of banditti surrounding two persons who were bound on horseback,

and who were supplicating for mercy.