reined up his horse. Before I knew what he was about a pistol had been
placed in my hands, and he said, "Every man for himself now. You are
free, sir."

"How--free?" I asked him.

His reply was to point ahead of us. "Brigands," he said, "and the
Kingdom of Heaven in view."

The troopers got off their horses, lashed them by the bridles, head to
head, and stood behind them with their muskets pointed the way the enemy
was coming. They were upon us almost before I had seen anything but a
cloud of whirling dust. They came on at a furious pace, yelling and
discharging their arms, and made short work of our defenses. The three
soldiers were killed and rifled. I and Belviso had our hands tied, were
strapped on to horses, put in the midst of the band, who were all
masked, and carried off at a terrible rate across the open country. We
went down a mountain side, crossed a torrent and crashed into a thick
belt of woodland which lay beyond it. In the midst of this a ruined
chapel or hermitage seemed to serve our captors for a camp; for here
they drew rein and disposed of us, their booty. My feet were bound, as
my hands already had been, and I was thrown thus helpless on my face on
one side; the miserable Belviso, whose disguise and beauty made him
appear what he had so unhappily pretended to be, had his hands tied
behind him, but his ankles left free. Him they placed on the other side
of the ruin at some distance from me. They had made no effort to search
me, my wretched rags of a clown of the theatre being my protection, and
by that means only I was able to keep the pistol given me by the
corporal. Mercifully I had not used it yet, for when the attack was made
I saw that I had better make no defence if I wished to save my life; and