“Do you know, Colomba, my dear,” she said, “I’m afraid we’ve lost our way!”

“No fear!” answered Colomba.  “Let us get on.  You follow me.”

“But I assure you we’re going wrong.  The village can’t be over there.  I’m certain we’re turning our backs on it.  Why, look at those lights, far away.  Pietranera must be in that direction.”

“My dear soul,” said Colomba, and she looked very much agitated, “you’re perfectly right.  But in the maquis—­less than a hundred yards from here—­”

“Well?”

“My brother is lying.  If you choose, I might see him, and give him one kiss.”

Miss Nevil made a gesture of astonishment.

“I got out of Pietranera without being noticed,” continued Colomba, “because I was with you, otherwise I should have been followed.  To be so close to him, and not to see him!  Why shouldn’t you come with me to see my poor brother?  You would make him so happy!”

“But, Colomba—­That wouldn’t be at all proper on my part——­”

“I see.  With you women who live in towns, your great anxiety is to be proper.  We village women only think of what is kind.”

“But it’s so late!  And then what will your brother think of me?”

“He’ll think his friends have not forsaken him, and that will give him courage to bear his sufferings.”

“And my father?  He’ll be so anxious!”

“He knows you are with me.  Come!  Make up your mind.  You were looking at his picture this morning,” she added, with a sly smile.

“No!  Really and truly, I don’t dare, Colomba!  Think of the bandits who are there.”

“Well, what matter?  The bandits don’t know you.  And you were longing to see some.”

“Oh, dear!”

“Come, signorina, settle something.  I can’t leave you alone here.  I don’t know what might happen to you.  Let us go on to see Orso, or else let us go back to the village together.  I shall see my brother again.  God knows when—­never, perhaps!”

“What’s that you are saying, Colomba?  Well, well, let us go!  But only for a minute, and then we’ll get home at once.”

Colomba squeezed her hand, and without making any reply walked on so quickly that Miss Lydia could hardly keep up with her.  She soon halted, luckily, and said to her companion: 

“We won’t go any farther without warning them.  We might have a bullet flying at our heads.”

She began to whistle through her fingers.  Soon they heard a dog bark, and the bandits’ advanced sentry shortly came in sight.  This was our old acquaintance Brusco, who recognised Colomba at once and undertook to be her guide.  After many windings through the narrow paths in the maquis they were met by two men, armed to the teeth.

“Is that you, Brandolaccio?” inquired Colomba.  “Where is my brother?”

“Just over there,” replied the bandit.  “But go quietly.  He’s asleep, and for the first time since his accident.  Zounds, it’s clear that where the devil gets through, a woman will get through too!”