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He will come under conduct; and, meanwhile, I
have to say that any man who offers to harm this prisoner, here, will
be shot."
"But why should we harm him, principessa?" they asked; and, indeed, I
felt inclined to echo their question, seeing that she pointed at me.
"Because he has killed Giuseppe," she answered simply.
"Giuseppe? He has slain Giuseppe?" The simultaneous cry went up in
a wail, and by impulse the hand of each one moved to his knife.
"Your pardon, principessa--" began one black-avised bandit, dropping
the haft of his knife and feeling for the gun at his back.
She waived him aside and turned to me. "I should warn you, sir, that
we are of one clan here, though I may not tell you our name; and
against the slayer of one it is vendetta with us all. But I spare
you until your father arrives."
"I thank you," answered I, feeling blue, but fetching up my best bow.
(Here was a pleasant prospect!) "I only beg to observe that I killed
this man--if I have killed him--in self-defence," I added.
"Do you wish me to repeat that as your plea?" she asked, half in
scorn.


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