Mezzoni the Brigand — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

46 MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. article, she did not speak. So Marion finally gave it to her out of pure good will. The woman, who. had been faithful to her trust, realized the motive, and taking Marion’s hand kissed it. The noise which had attracted the prisoner’s no- tice was caused by the bringing in, by the outgoing guard, of a stranger, who was considered to be a sus- picious character, and too near the robbers’ strong- hold to allow him to pass unchallenged. He was a sorry object to behold, however, covered with dirt, and his clothing barely holding together sufficiently to cover his person. He might even in Naples have passed for the prince of beggars. The straggler’s story was soon told. He had es- caped from an English man-of-war lying off the coast, and being pursued by a boat’s crew had strayed inland to escape from being arrested and re- turned. An English frigate had been off the coast lately, the man’s appearance was nautical, and he had evidently told quite a straight story. “What can we do with you?” asked he who seemed to be at present in command at the cave. ‘“‘Give me food. lam starving!’’ ‘“Give him what he desires,’’ said the officer to his men. Coarse and substantial food was placed before the tottering man. He must have been on the very verge of starvation, judging by the ravenous man- ner in which he swallowed the nutriment he re- ceived from the brigands. As he ate and drank— for they had given him a bottle of country wine—he oradually seemed to straighten up, and to exhibit new strength and fresh life, to look about him with YEecomicbooks.co