and wife included, and proceeded to the vicinity of Portatta, near the
main road leading from Rome to Naples, which at that time was much
frequented by the French of every rank and condition, who proceeded
under orders between these two places. Towards night, Spatolino placed
himself and comrades in ambush on the high road, intending to take
advantage of a military body of which he had information. Ere long a
sound of horses was heard; they were immediately on the alert, and
succeeded in arresting a French escort of seven soldiers on foot, and
the same number on horseback, conducting the baggage-wagon of a French
colonel of the line. It contained all his effects, and money to a large
amount. Upon the first fire of Spatolino's band, five of the soldiers
were killed, and three desperately wounded; he then threw himself
amongst the others, who were placed on the defence, and who had expended
their fire without hurting a single individual of the band. Spatolino,
with his pistols, killed two, and a few moments saw him and his band
masters of the field. Spatolino ordered his men to strip the dead, and
placing every thing in the wagon, after digging a pit for the bodies,
they retired to a cave in a wood near the road, where the booty was
equally divided. He took himself two of the best horses, and armed and
equipped his band in a superior manner. He also presented to his wife a
part of the spoil, she having been armed in the action, performing the
duty of a sentinel on the highway in advance about half a mile off, to
give notice, in case of an overwhelming force appearing. Spatolino,
having made a fair division of the spoil to raise the courage of his
companions, sent all his own money to his parents, informing them at the
same time, that for the future they should be released from misery, as
he would ever bear in mind the beings who gave him birth.--_New Monthly
Magazine_.

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