the force sent in search of the ‘Filibuster,’ did not doubt that the whole Garibaldian army was concentrated over Monreale.  Garibaldi rapidly moved his own column by night to its new base of operations.  The ground was steep and difficult, and a storm raged all the night; fifteen years later he declared that none of his marches in the virgin forests of America was so arduous as this.  While the Neapolitans remained in ignorance of these changes, three English naval officers, guided by a sort of sporting dog’s instinct, happened to be driving through the village of Misilmeri just after Garibaldi established his headquarters in that neighbourhood.  Of course it was by chance; still, Misilmeri is an odd place to go for an afternoon drive, and the escapade ended in the issue of a severe warning to Her Majesty’s officers and marines to keep in future ’within the bounds of the sentinels of the royal troops.’  Luckily record exists of the experiences of Lieutenant Wilmot and his two companions at Misilmeri.  Garibaldi, on hearing that three English naval officers were in the village, sent to invite them to the vineyard where he was taking his dinner.  They found him standing in a large enclosure in the midst of a group of followers who all, like himself, wore the legendary red flannel shirt and grey trousers.  Fra Pantaleo’s brown habit formed the only exception.  Several Hungarian officers were present, and by his father stood Menotti, then a stout youth of nineteen, with his arm in a sling from the severe wound he received at Calatafimi.  Around were soldiers who looked like mere boys.  They gazed with delight on the English uniforms.  Garibaldi requested his guests to be seated and to partake of some freshly-gathered strawberries.  He spoke of his affection and respect for England, and said it was his hope soon to make the acquaintance of the British admiral.  He mentioned how he had seen and admired from the heights the beautiful effect of the salutes fired in honour of the Queen’s birthday, two days before.  He then retired into his tent, made of an old blanket stretched over pikes; a child, under the name of a sentry, paced before it to keep off the crowd.

To complete the deception of the enemy the Garibaldian artillery, under Colonel Orsini, was ordered to make a retrograde march on Corleone previous to joining the main force at Misilmeri.  Orsini narrowly escaped getting caught while executing this movement, and for the sake of celerity was obliged to throw his five cannon (including one taken at Calatafimi) down deep water courses.  He returned to pull them out again when the immediate danger was past.  General Colonna, who followed him closely, was convinced that the whole of the Garibaldians were in disorderly retreat as witnessed by the mules and waggons purposely abandoned by Orsini along the route.  For four days Colonna believed that he had Garibaldi flying before him, and sent intelligence to that effect to Naples, whence it was published through the world.  On the fifth day he was immeasurably surprised by hearing that Garibaldi had entered Palermo!