A Sicilian Romance - Page 120/139

Julia was silent and thoughtful; Hippolitus gradually sunk into the

same mood, and he often cast a cautious look around as they travelled

for some hours along the feet of the mountains. They stopped to dine

under the shade of some beach-trees; for, fearful of discovery,

Hippolitus had provided against the necessity of entering many inns.

Having finished their repast, they pursued their journey; but

Hippolitus now began to doubt whether he was in the right direction.

Being destitute, however, of the means of certainty upon this point,

he followed the road before him, which now wound up the side of a

steep hill, whence they descended into a rich valley, where the

shepherd's pipe sounded sweetly from afar among the hills. The evening

sun shed a mild and mellow lustre over the landscape, and softened

each feature with a vermil glow that would have inspired a mind less

occupied than Julia's with sensations of congenial tranquillity.

The evening now closed in; and as they were doubtful of the road, and

found it would be impossible to reach Palini that night, they took the

way to a village, which they perceived at the extremity of the valley.

They had proceeded about half a mile, when they heard a sudden shout

of voices echoed from among the hills behind them; and looking back

perceived faintly through the dusk a party of men on horseback making

towards them. As they drew nearer, the words they spoke were

distinguishable, and Julia heard her own name sounded. Shocked at this

circumstance, she had now no doubt that she was discovered by a party

of her father's people, and she fled with Hippolitus along the valley.

The pursuers, however, were almost come up with them, when they

reached the mouth of a cavern, into which she ran for concealment.

Hippolitus drew his sword; and awaiting his enemies, stood to defend

the entrance. In a few moments Julia heard the clashing of swords. Her heart

trembled for Hippolitus; and she was upon the point of returning to

resign herself at once to the power of her enemies, and thus avert the

danger that threatened him, when she distinguished the loud voice of

the duke.

She shrunk involuntarily at the sound, and pursuing the windings of

the cavern, fled into its inmost recesses. Here she had not been long

when the voices sounded through the cave, and drew near. It was now

evident that Hippolitus was conquered, and that her enemies were in

search of her. She threw round a look of unutterable anguish, and

perceived very near, by a sudden gleam of torchlight, a low and deep

recess in the rock. The light which belonged to her pursuers, grew

stronger; and she entered the rock on her knees, for the overhanging

craggs would not suffer her to pass otherwise; and having gone a few

yards, perceived that it was terminated by a door. The door yielded to

her touch, and she suddenly found herself in a highly vaulted cavern,

which received a feeble light from the moon-beams that streamed

through an opening in the rock above.