'There you will find us all when you are on your legs again,' said
Venantius, 'unless by that time we have marched Romewards, in which
case you shall have a message. Trust me to look after all you left
there; I answer for its safety and for that of your good fellows.
Keep up heart, and God make you sound.'
Basil, couched on a bed of dry leaves, raised himself so as to watch
the troop as it rode forth again from the ruined gate. Whether she
who sat hidden within the carriage had heard of his evil plight he
knew not, and could not have brought himself to ask. The last of his
own horsemen (some of whom had taken leave of him with tears) having
vanished from sight, he fell back, and for a while knew nothing but
the burning torment in his brain.
The ascent of the mountain began. It was a rough, narrow road,
winding through a thick forest of oak and beech trees, here and
there so steep as to try the firm footing of the mules, and in
places dangerous because of broken ground on the edge of precipitous
declivities. The cart was driven by its owner, a peasant of Casinum,
who at times sat sideways on one of the beasts, at times walked by
them; behind came the two religious men, cowled, bare-footed; and
last Basil's attendant on horseback.
Pages:
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468