I believe you might do something for him.
If it suit your plans, the bearer will give you safe conduct:
if not, I remain your obedient son,"
"PROSPER."
I translated this for her, and folded the paper.
"Marc'antonio!" she called to one of the three men, who by this time
had finished plaiting the litter and were strewing it with fern.
Marc'antonio--a lean, slight fellow with an old scar on his cheek--
stepped forward at once. She gave him my note and handkerchief with
instructions to hurry.
"Excuse me, principessa"--he hesitated, with a glance at me and
another at his comrades--"but these two, with the litter, will have
their hands full; and this prisoner is a strong one and artful.
Has he not already slain 'l Verru?"
"You will mind your own business, Marc'antonio, which is to run, as I
tell you."
The man turned without another word, but with a last distrustful
look, and plunged downhill into the scrub. The girl made a careless
sign to the others to lay Nat on his litter, and, turning, led the
way up the rocky front of the summit, presenting her back to me,
choosing the path which offered fewest impediments to the
litter-bearers in our rear.
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