expression of alarm spreading upon his comely face. A second he remained
thus; then, going swiftly to the door, he opened it, and stood listening,
followed by the surprised glances of the assembled company. But it
needed not the warning cry with which he turned, to afford them the
explanation of his odd behaviour. In the moment's tense silence that had
followed his sudden opening of the door they had caught from without the
distant fall of marching feet.




CHAPTER II

ON A MOUNTAIN PATH


"Armed men, my lords!" had been Fanfulla's cry. "We are betrayed!"

They looked at one another with stern eyes, and with that grimness that
takes the place which fear would hold in meaner souls.

Then Aquila rose slowly to his feet, and with him rose the others,
looking to their weapons. He softly breathed a name--"Masuccio Torri."

"Aye," cried Lodi bitterly, "would that we had heeded your warning!
Masuccio it will be, and at his heels his fifty mercenaries."

"Not less, I'll swear, by the sound of them," said Ferrabraccio. "And we
but six, without our harness."