THE STORY
OF
THE BANDIT CHIEFTAIN.
I am a native of the village of Prossedi.
My father was easy enough in circumstances,
and we lived peaceably and
independently, cultivating our fields.
All went on well with us until a new
chief of the Sbirri was sent to our village
to take command of the police. He was
an arbitrary fellow, prying into every
thing, and practising all sorts of vexations
and oppressions in the discharge of
his office. I was at that time eighteen
years of age, and had a natural love of
justice and good neighbourhood. I had
also a little education, and knew something
of history, so as to be able to judge
a little of men and their actions. All
this inspired me with hatred for this
paltry despot. My own family, also,
became the object of his suspicion or
dislike, and felt more than once the
arbitrary abuse of his power. These
things worked together in my mind, and
I gasped after vengeance. My character
was always ardent and energetic, and,
acted upon by the love of justice, determined
me, by one blow, to rid the
country of the tyrant.
Full of my project, I rose one morning
before peep of day, and concealing a
stiletto under my waistcoat—here you
see it!—(and he drew forth a long keen
poniard) I lay in wait for him in the
outskirts of the village. I knew all his
haunts, and his habit of making his
rounds and prowling about like a wolf in
the gray of the morning. At length I
met him, and attacked him with fury.
He was armed, but I took him unawares,
and was full of youth and vigour. I
gave him repeated blows to make sure
work, and laid him lifeless at my feet.
When I was satisfied that I had done
for him, I returned with all haste to the
village, but had the ill luck to meet two
of the Sbirri as I entered it. They
accosted me, and asked if I had seen
their chief. I assumed an air of tranquillity,
and told them I had not. They
continued on their way, and within a
few hours brought back the dead body
to Prossedi. Their suspicions of me
being already awakened, I was arrested
and thrown into prison. Here I lay
several weeks, when the Prince, who
was Seigneur of Prossedi, directed judicial
proceedings against me. I was
brought to trial, and a witness was produced,
who pretended to have seen me
flying with precipitation not far from the
bleeding body; and so I was condemned
to the galleys for thirty years.
"Curse on such laws!" vociferated
the bandit, foaming with rage: "Curse
on such a government! and ten thousand
curses on the Prince who caused me
to be adjudged so rigorously, while so
many other Roman princes harbour and
protect assassins a thousand times more
culpable! What had I done but what
was inspired by a love of justice and my
country? Why was my act more culpable
than that of Brutus, when he sacrificed
Cæsar to the cause of liberty and
justice?"
There was something at once both
lofty and ludicrous in the rhapsody of
this robber chief, thus associating himself
with one of the great names of
antiquity. It showed, however, that
he had at least the merit of knowing the
remarkable facts in the history of his
country. He became more calm, and
resumed his narrative.
I was conducted to Civita Vecchia in
fetters. My heart was burning with rage.
I had been married scarce six months to
a woman whom I passionately loved, and
who was pregnant. My family was in
despair. For a long time I made unsuccessful
efforts to break my chain. At
length I found a morsel of iron, which I
hid carefully, and endeavoured, with a
pointed flint, to fashion it into a kind of
file. I occupied myself in this work
during the night-time, and when it was
finished, I made out, after a long time, to
sever one of the rings of my chain. My
flight was successful.
I wandered for several weeks in the
mountains which surround Prossedi, and
found means to inform my wife of the
place where I was concealed. She came
often to see me. I had determined to
put myself at the head of an armed band.
She endeavoured, for a long time, to dissuade
me, but finding my resolution fixed,
she at length united in my project of
vengeance, and brought me, herself, my
poniard. By her means I communicated
with several brave fellows of the neighbouring
villages, whom I knew to be
ready to take to the mountains, and only
panting for an opportunity to exercise
their daring spirits. We soon formed
a combination, procured arms, and we
have had ample opportunities of revenging
ourselves for the wrongs and injuries
which most of us have suffered. Every
thing has succeeded with us until now;
and had it not been for our blunder in
mistaking you for the prince, our fortunes
would have been made.
Here the robber concluded his story.
He had talked himself into complete companionship,
and assured me he no longer
bore me any grudge for the error of
which I had been the innocent cause.
He even professed a kindness for me,
and wished me to remain some time with
them. He promised to give me a sight
of certain grottoes which they occupied
beyond Villetri, and whither they resorted
during the intervals of their expeditions.
He assured me that they led a jovial life
there; had plenty of good cheer; slept
on beds of moss; and were waited upon
by young and beautiful females, whom I
might take for models.
I confess I felt my curiosity roused by
his description of the grottoes and their
inhabitants; they realized those scenes
in robber story which I had always looked
upon as mere creations of the fancy. I
should gladly have accepted his invitation,
and paid a visit to these caverns,
could I have felt more secure in my
company.
I began to find my situation less painful.
I had evidently propitiated the goodwill
of the chieftain, and hoped that he
might release me for a moderate ransom.
A new alarm, however, awaited me.
While the captain was looking out with
impatience for the return of the messenger
who had been sent to the prince, the
sentinel who had been posted on the side
of the mountain facing the plain of La
Molara came running towards us with
precipitation. "We are betrayed!" exclaimed
he. "The police of Frascati
are after us. A party of carabineers
have just stopped at the inn below the
mountain." Then, laying his hand on
his stiletto, he swore, with a terrible
oath, that if they made the least movement
towards the mountain, my life and
the lives of my fellow-prisoners should
answer for it.
The chieftain resumed all his ferocity
of demeanour, and approved of what his
companion said; but when the latter had
returned to his post, he turned to me
with a softened air: "I must act as
chief," said he, "and humour my dangerous
subalterns. It is a law with us
to kill our prisoners, rather than suffer
them to be rescued; but do not be alarmed.
In case we are surprised, keep by
me. Fly with us, and I will consider
myself responsible for your life."
There was nothing very consolatory
in this arrangement, which would have
placed me between two dangers. I
scarcely knew, in case of flight, from
which I should have most to apprehend,
the carbines of the pursuers, or the stilettoes
of the pursued. I remained silent,
however, and endeavoured to maintain a
look of tranquillity.
For an hour was I kept in this state of
peril and anxiety. The robbers, crouching
among their leafy coverts, kept an
eagle watch upon the carabineers below,
as they loitered about the inn; sometimes
lolling about the portal; sometimes
disappearing for several minutes;
then sallying out, examining their weapons,
pointing in different directions, and
apparently asking questions about the
neighbourhood. Not a movement, a gesture,
was lost upon the keen eyes of the
brigands. The carabineers having finished
their refreshment, seized their arms,
continued along the valley towards the
great road, and gradually left the mountain
behind them. "I felt almost certain,"
said the chief, "that they could
not be sent after us. They know too
well how prisoners have fared in our
hands on similar occasions. Our laws
in this respect are inflexible, and are
necessary for our safety. If we once
flinched from them, there would no longer
be any such thing as a ransom to be procured."
There were no signs yet of the messenger's
return. I was preparing to resume
my sketching, when the captain
drew a quire of paper from his knapsack.
"Come," said he, laughing, "you are a
painter,—take my likeness. The leaves
of your portfolio are small,—draw it on
this." I
gladly consented, for it was a
study that seldom presents itself to a
painter. I recollected that Salvator Rosa
in his youth had voluntarily sojourned
for a time among the banditti of Calabria,
and had filled his mind with the savage
scenery and savage associates by which
he was surrounded. I seized my pencil
with enthusiasm at the thought. I found
the captain the most decile of subjects,
and, after various shiftings of position, I
placed him in an attitude to my mind.
Picture to yourself a stern muscular
figure, in fanciful bandit costume; with
pistols and poniards in belt; his brawny
neck bare; a handkerchief loosely thrown
round it, and the two ends in front strung
with rings of all kinds, the spoils of travellers;
relics and medals hanging on
his breast; his hat decorated with various
coloured ribands; his vest and short
breeches of bright colours and finely
embroidered; his legs in buskins or leggings.
Fancy him on a mountain height,
among wild rocks and rugged oaks, leaning
on his carbine, as if meditating some
exploit; while far below are beheld villages
and villas, the scenes of his maraudings,
with the wide Campagna dimly
extending in the distance.
The robber was pleased with the
sketch, and seemed to admire himself
upon paper. I had scarcely finished,
when the labourer arrived who had been
sent for my ransom. He had reached
Tusculum two hours after midnight. He
brought me a letter from the prince, who
was in bed at the time of his arrival. As
I had predicted, he treated the demand
as extravagant, but offered five hundred
dollars for my ransom. Having no money
by him at the moment, he had sent
a note for the amount, payable to whomsoever
should conduct me safe and sound
to Rome. I presented the note of hand
to the chieftain: he received it with a
shrug. "Of what use are notes of hand
to us?" said he. "Who can we send
with you to Rome to receive it? We are
all marked men; known and described
at every gate and military post, and village
church-door. No; we must have
gold and silver; let the sum be paid
in cash, and you shall be restored to
liberty."
The captain again placed a sheet of
paper before me, to communicate his
determination to the prince. When I
had finished the letter, and took the
sheet from the quire, I found on the
opposite side of it the portrait which I
had just been tracing. I was about to
tear it off, and give it to the chief.
"Hold!" said he, "let it go to Rome:
let them see what kind of a looking fellow
I am. Perhaps the prince and his
friends may form as good an opinion of
me from my face as you have done."
This was said sportively, yet it was
evident there was vanity lurking at the
bottom. Even this wary, distrustful chief
of banditti forgot for a moment his usual
foresight and precaution, in the common
wish to be admired. He never reflected
what use might be made of this portrait
in his pursuit and conviction.
The letter was folded and directed,
and the messenger departed again for
Tusculum. It was now eleven o'clock
in the morning, and as yet we had eaten
nothing. In spite of all my anxiety, I
began to feel a craving appetite. I was
glad therefore to hear the captain talk
something about eating. He observed
that for three days and nights they had
been lurking about among rocks and
woods, meditating their expedition to
Tusculum, during which time all their
provisions had been exhausted. He
should now take measures to procure a
supply. Leaving me therefore in charge
of his comrade, in whom he appeared to
have implicit confidence, he departed,
assuring me that in less than two hours
we should make a good dinner. Where
it was to come from was an enigma to
me, though it was evident these beings
had their secret friends and agents
throughout the country.
Indeed, the inhabitants of these mountains,
and of the valleys which they embosom,
are a rude, half-civilized set.
The towns and villages among the forests
of the Abruzzi, shut up from the rest of
the world, are almost like savage dens.
It is wonderful that such rude abodes, so
little known and visited, should be embosomed
in the midst of one of the most
travelled and civilized countries of Europe.
Among these regions the robber
prowls unmolested; not a mountaineer
hesitates to give him secret harbour
and assistance. The shepherds, however,
who tend their flocks among the
mountains, are the favourite emissaries
of the robbers, when they would send
messages down to the valleys either for
ransom or supplies.
The shepherds of the Abruzzi are as
wild as the scenes they frequent. They
are clad in a rude garb of black or brown
sheepskin; they have high conical hats,
and coarse sandals of cloth bound round
their legs with thongs similar to those
worn by the robbers. They carry long
staves, on which as they lean, they form
picturesque objects in the lonely landscape,
and they are followed by their
ever-constant companion, the dog. They
are a curious questioning set, glad at
any time to relieve the monotony of their
solitude by the conversation of the passers-by;
and the dog will lend an attentive
ear, and put on as sagacious and inquisitive
a look as his master.
But I am wandering from my story.
I was now left alone with one of the robbers,
the confidential companion of the
chief. He was the youngest and most
vigorous of the band; and though his
countenance had something of that dissolute
fierceness which seems natural to
this desperate, lawless mode of life, yet
there were traces of manly beauty about
it. As an artist I could not but admire
it. I had remarked in him an air of
abstraction and revery, and at times a
movement of inward suffering and impatience.
He now sat on the ground, his
elbows on his knees, his head resting
between his clenched fists, and his eyes
fixed on the earth with an expression of
sad and bitter rumination. I had grown
familiar with him from repeated conversations,
and had found him superior in
mind to the rest of the band. I was
anxious to seize any opportunity of sounding
the feelings of these singular beings.
I fancied I read in the countenance of
this one traces of self-condemnation and
remorse; and the ease with which I had
drawn forth the confidence of the chieftain
encouraged me to hope the same
with his follower.
After a little preliminary conversation,
I ventured to ask him if he did not feel
regret at having abandoned his family,
and taken to this dangerous profession.
"I feel," replied he, "but one regret,
and that will end only with my life."
As he said this, he pressed his clenched
fists upon his bosom, drew his breath
through his set teeth, and added, with a
deep emotion, "I have something within
here that stiftes me; it is like a burning
iron consuming my very heart. I could
tell you a miserable story—but not now
—another time."
He relapsed into his former position,
and sat with his head between his hands,
muttering to himself in broken ejaculations,
and what appeared at times to be
curses and maledictions. I saw he was
not in a mood to be disturbed, so I left
him to himself. In a little while the exhaustion
of his feelings, and probably the
fatigues he had undergone in this expedition,
began to produce drowsiness. He
struggled with it for a time, but the
warmth and stillness of mid-day made it
irresistible, and he at length stretched
himself upon the herbage and fell fast
asleep.
I now beheld a chance of escape within
my reach. My guard lay before me at
my mercy. His vigorous limbs relaxed
by sleep—his bosom open for the blow—
his carbine slipped from his nerveless
grasp, and lying by his side—his stiletto
half out of the pocket in which it was
usually carried. Two only of his comrades
were in sight, and those at a considerable
distance on the edge of the
mountain, their backs turned to us, and
their attention occupied in keeping a
look-out upon the plain. Through a strip
of intervening forest, and at the foot of a
steep descent, I beheld the village of
Rocca Priori. To have secured the carbine
of the sleeping brigand; to have
seized upon his poniard, and have plunged
it in his heart, would have been the work
of an instant. Should he die without
noise, I might dart through the forest,
and down to Rocca Priori before my
flight might be discovered. In case of
alarm, I should have a fair start of the
robbers, and a chance of getting beyond
the reach of their shot.
Here then was an opportunity for both
escape and vengeance; perilous indeed,
but powerfully tempting. Had my situation
been more critical I could not have
resisted it. I reflected, however, for a
moment. The attempt, if successful,
would be followed by the sacrifice of my
two fellow-prisoners, who were sleeping
profoundly, and could not be awakened
in time to escape. The labourer who
had gone after the ransom might also fall
a victim to the rage of the robbers, without
the money which he brought being
saved. Besides, the conduct of the chief
towards me made me feel confident of
speedy deliverance. These reflections
overcame the first powerful impulse, and
I calmed the turbulent agitation which it
had awakened.
I again took out my materials for
drawing, and amused myself with sketching
the magnificent prospect. It was
now about noon, and every thing had
sunk into repose, like the bandit that lay
sleeping before me. The noontide stillness
that reigned over the mountains, the
vast landscape below, gleaming with
distant towns, and dotted with various
habitations and signs of life, yet all so
silent, had a powerful effect upon my
mind. The intermediate valleys, too,
which lie among the mountains, have a
peculiar air of solitude. Few sounds are
heard at mid-day to break the quiet of
the scene. Sometimes the whistle of a
solitary muleteer, lagging with his lazy
animal along the road which winds
through the centre of the valley; sometimes
the faint piping of a shepherd's
reed from the side of the mountain, or
sometimes the bell of an ass slowly
pacing along, followed by a monk with
bare feet, and hare, shining head, and
carrying provisions to his convent.
I had continued to sketch for some
time among my sleeping companions,
when at length I saw the captain of the
band approaching, followed by a peasant
leading a mule, on which was a well-filled
sack. I at first apprehended that
this was some new prey fallen into the
hands of the robbers; but the contented
look of the peasant soon relieved me,
and I was rejoiced to hear that it was our
promised repast. The brigands now came
running from the three sides of the mountain,
having the quick scent of vultures.
Every one busied himself in unloading
the mule, and relieving the sack of its
contents.
The first thing that made its appearance
was an enormous ham, of a colour
and plumpness that would have inspired
the pencil of Teniers; it was followed by
a large cheese, a bag of boiled chestnuts,
a little barrel of wine, and a quantity of
good household bread. Every thing was
arranged on the grass with a degree of
symmetry; and the captain, presenting
me his knife, requested me to help myself.
We all seated ourselves round the
viands, and nothing was heard for a
time but the sound of vigorous mastication,
or the gurgling of the barrel of
wine as it revolved briskly about the
circle. My long fasting, and the mountain
air and exercise, had given me a
keen appetite; and never did repast appear
to me more excellent or picturesque.
From time to time one of the band
was despatched to keep a look-out upon
the plain. No enemy was at hand, and
the dinner was undisturbed. The peasant
received nearly three times the value
of his provisions, and set off down the
mountain highly satisfied with his bargain.
I felt invigorated by the hearty
meal I had made, and notwithstanding
the wound I had received the evening
before was painful, yet I could not but
feel extremely interested and gratified by
the singular scenes continually presented
to me. Every thing was picturesque
about these wild beings and their haunts.
Their bivouacs; their groups on guard;
their indolent noontide repose on the
mountain-brow; their rude repast on the
herbage among rocks and trees; every
thing presented a study for a painter:
but it was towards the approach of evening
that I felt the highest enthusiasm
awakened.
The setting sun, declining beyond the
vast Campagna, shed its rich yellow
beams on the woody summit of the
Abruzzi. Several mountains crowned
with snow shone brilliantly in the distance,
contrasting their brightness with
others, which, thrown into shade, assumed
deep tints of purple and violet.
As the evening advanced, the landscape
darkened into a sterner character. The
immense solitude around; the wild mountains
broken into rocks and precipiees,
intermingled with vast oaks, corks, and
chestnuts; and the groups of banditti in
the foreground, reminded me of the
savage scenes of Salvator Rosa.
To beguile the time, the captain proposed
to his comrades to spread before
me their jewels and cameos, as I must
doubtless be a judge of such articles, and
able to form an estimate of their value.
He set the example, the others followed
it; and in a few moments I saw the grass
before me sparkling with jewels and gems
that would have delighted the eyes of an
antiquary or a fine lady.
Among them were several precious
jewels, and antique intaglios and cameos
of great value; the spoils, doubtless of
travellers of distinction. I found that
they were in the habit of selling their
booty in the frontier towns; but as these
in general were thinly and poorly peopled,
and little frequented by travellers, they
could offer no market for such valuable
articles of taste and luxury. I suggested
to them the certainty of their readily obtaining
great prices for these gems among
the rich strangers with whom Rome was
thronged.
The impression made upon their greedy
minds was immediately apparent. One
of the band, a young man, and the least
known, requested permission of the captain
to depart the following day, in disguise,
for Rome, for the purpose of traffic;
promising, on the faith of a bandit (a sacred
pledge among them), to return in
two days to any place he might appoint.
The captain consented, and a curious
scene took place: the robbers crowded
round him eagerly, confiding to him such
of their jewels as they wished to dispose
of, and giving him instructions what to
demand. There was much bargaining
and exchanging and selling of trinkets
among them; and I beheld my watch,
which had a chain and valuable seals,
purchased by the young robber-merchant
of the ruffian who had plundered me, for
sixty dollars. I now conceived a faint
hope, that if it went to Rome, I might
somehow or other regain possession of it.[2]
In the mean time day declined, and
no messenger returned from Tusculum.
The idea of passing another night in the
woods was extremely disheartening, for
I began to be satisfied with what I had
seen of robber-life. The chieftain now
ordered his men to follow him, that he
might station them at their posts; adding,
that if the messenger did not return before
night, they must shift their quarters to
some other place.
I was again left alone with the young
bandit who had before guarded me: he
had the same gloomy air and haggard
eye, with now and then a bitter sardonic
smile. I was determined to probe his
ulcerated heart, and reminded him of a
kind of promise he had given me to tell
me the cause of his suffering. It seemed
to me as if these troubled spirits were
glad of any opportunity to disburthen
themselves, and of having some fresh,
undiseased mind, with which they could
communicate. I had hardly made the
request, when he seated himself by my
side, and gave me his story in, as nearly
as I can recollect, the following words.
