"The celebrated Cucumetto, pursued in the Abruzzo, driven out of the kingdom of Naples, where he had carried on a regular war, had crossed the Garigliano, like Manfred, and had taken refuge on the banks of the Amasine between Sonnino and Juperno.He strove to collect a band of followers, and followed the footsteps of Decesaris and Gasperone, whom he hoped to surpass.Many young men of Palestrina, Frascati, and Pampinara had disappeared.Their disappearance at first caused much disquietude; but it was soon known that they had joined Cucumetto.After some time Cucumetto became the object of universal attention; the most extraordinary traits of ferocious daring and brutality were related of him.One day he carried off a young girl, the daughter of a surveyor of Frosinone.The bandit's laws are positive; a young girl belongs first to him who carries her off, then the rest draw lots for her, and she is abandoned to their brutality until death relieves her sufferings.When their parents are sufficiently rich to pay a ransom, a messenger is sent to negotiate; the prisoner is hostage for the security of the messenger; should the ransom be refused, the prisoner is irrevocably lost.The young girl's lover was in Cucumetto's troop; his name was Carlini.When she recognized her lover, the poor girl extended her arms to him, and believed herself safe; but Carlini felt his heart sink, for he but too well knew the fate that awaited her.However, as he was a favorite with Cucumetto, as he had for three years faithfully served him, and as he had saved his life by shooting a dragoon who was about to cut him down, he hoped the chief would have pity on him.He took Cucumetto one side, while the young girl, seated at the foot of a huge pine that stood in the centre of the forest, made a veil of her picturesque head-dress to hide her face from the lascivious gaze of the bandits.There he told the chief all -- his affection for the prisoner, their promises of mutual fidelity, and how every night, since he had been near, they had met in some neighboring ruins.
"It so happened that night that Cucumetto had sent Carlini to a village, so that he had been unable to go to the place of meeting.Cucumetto had been there, however, by accident, as he said, and had carried the maiden off.Carlini besought his chief to make an exception in Rita's favor, as her father was rich, and could pay a large ransom.Cucumetto seemed to yield to his friend's entreaties, and bade him find a shepherd to send to Rita's father at Frosinone.
Carlini flew joyfully to Rita, telling her she was saved, and bidding her write to her father, to inform him what had occurred, and that her ransom was fixed at three hundred piastres.Twelve hours' delay was all that was granted --that is, until nine the next morning.The instant the letter was written, Carlini seized it, and hastened to the plain to find a messenger.He found a young shepherd watching his flock.The natural messengers of the bandits are the shepherds who live between the city and the mountains, between civilized and savage life.The boy undertook the commission, promising to be in Frosinone in less than an hour.Carlini returned, anxious to see his mistress, and announce the joyful intelligence.He found the troop in the glade, supping off the provisions exacted as contributions from the peasants; but his eye vainly sought Rita and Cucumetto among them.He inquired where they were, and was answered by a burst of laughter.A cold perspiration burst from every pore, and his hair stood on end.He repeated his question.One of the bandits rose, and offered him a glass filled with Orvietto, saying, `To the health of the brave Cucumetto and the fair Rita.' At this moment Carlini heard a woman's cry; he divined the truth, seized the glass, broke it across the face of him who presented it, and rushed towards the spot whence the cry came.After a hundred yards he turned the corner of the thicket; he found Rita senseless in the arms of Cucumetto.At the sight of Carlini, Cucumetto rose, a pistol in each hand.The two brigands looked at each other for a moment -- the one with a smile of lasciviousness on his lips, the other with the pallor of death on his brow.
A terrible battle between the two men seemed imminent; but by degrees Carlini's features relaxed, his hand, which had grasped one of the pistols in his belt, fell to his side.
Rita lay between them.The moon lighted the group.
"`Well,' said Cucumetto, `have you executed your commission?'
"`Yes, captain,' returned Carlini.`At nine o'clock to-morrow Rita's father will be here with the money.' -- `It is well; in the meantime, we will have a merry night; this young girl is charming, and does credit to your taste.Now, as I am not egotistical, we will return to our comrades and draw lots for her.' -- `You have determined, then, to abandon her to the common law?" said Carlini.
"`Why should an exception be made in her favor?'
"`I thought that my entreaties' --
"`What right have you, any more than the rest, to ask for an exception?' -- `It is true.' -- `But never mind,' continued Cucumetto, laughing, `sooner or later your turn will come.'
Carlini's teeth clinched convulsively.
"`Now, then,' said Cucumetto, advancing towards the other bandits, `are you coming?' -- `I follow you.'
"Cucumetto departed, without losing sight of Carlini, for, doubtless, he feared lest he should strike him unawares; but nothing betrayed a hostile design on Carlini's part.He was standing, his arms folded, near Rita, who was still insensible.Cucumetto fancied for a moment the young man was about to take her in his arms and fly; but this mattered little to him now Rita had been his; and as for the money, three hundred piastres distributed among the band was so small a sum that he cared little about it.He continued to follow the path to the glade; but, to his great surprise, Carlini arrived almost as soon as himself.`Let us draw lots! let us draw lots!' cried all the brigands, when they saw the chief.
