THE LIFE OF CARLINI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11604, 19 August 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LIFE OF CARLINI.

The red ball of the sun was shining like a chemist's globe in the window of heaven. The clouds, hanging like black draperies, burned in a crimson smoulder. The smoke from their burning rushed along the roof of the world. The wind blowing from the west was warm and tepid 'ike a monster's breath. Showers of black birds, great and small, flew along high np in the air, like flattering ashes from the terrible conflagration. The enormous mountain rising into the air became rose-coloured. In the distance it resembled a crimson cloud upon the horizon. Approaching rapidly nearer, it grew and expanded until the vast face of heaven became partially eclipsed. This great mountain flung a dozen petrified heads into the air. It seemed to be wedged between the eatth and sky. The very birds seemed unable to pass the stupendous barrier, and flew screaming along its face. In resembled ie the ruby glare of the sun some enormous monster, covered with gory wounds, crawling cut of the sea. A monster indeed ! The forest 3 were but hair in that face, the innumerable caverns which covered it but pores in that skin, torrents rushing from it 9 ratines bat tears from its invisible eyes or white threads upon its shaggy body ; and the bandits which it sheltered — the rubbers, the murderers, the wild beasts of humanity — were but red lice living upon that monster body, liviog in the cavts of the earth, which is the natural dwelling-place of all wild beasts. Upon this evening of '69, before *,he mouth of one of these caverns, which was covered with a heavy moustache of bushes and screened from below by a barricade of rocks, which seemed to have rolled from the cliffs above, stood the motionless figure of a man, appearing like a black fly upon this monument of immensity. The crimson rays of the sun gilded his gaudy figure, besioe which the clear-cut, colourless shadow appeared plain and foreign. A tall, lithe, active looking man of about thirty, attired in garments of faded richness — breeches of crimson velvet, yellow garters ot skin, a black velvet vest, and a silken jacket worked with flowers. A sash divided his middle, in •which was stuck a pistol and a long knife ; white a long carbine with a carved stock ho r.eld lightly in his right hand. His countenance — of a fierce and commanding mould — was of a daik reddish colour resembling mahogany, with large eyes gleaming in it like diamonds. His coal-black hair hung in locks upon his shoulders, and almost concealed the bright glitter of his earrings. His hat, which he wore carelessly, was decorated with bright ribbons. Thi3 man *va-« Carlini, the noted chief of the banditii, "ho*e name was the terror to this n.-yi <a uf Italy m the year ot "69. The motionless figure became alive. He stepped to the left with the noiseless step of an animal, and swept the •surrounding bouldera with the steady gaze of his keen black eye*, u-turned to the opposite side and repeate.t the precaution ; then, advancing to i'te screen ■of rocks, lie allowed his eyes to wander over tin* scene spread before him — the mountain falling away from hi 3 feet and roiling in petrified green waves to the plain — the plain stretched out like a great picture. The red, lidless eye J upon tbe horizon glowered at the scene | beneath a heavy eyebrow of clouds. It resembled some great strange ship fly- ; ing away over the sea, and leaving a wake of golden foam weltering in the ] blue water. The voices in the cavern rose gradually. They resembled the humming of bees in a great hive. The old man and bis daughter had that morning been captured by the, bandits when on a -journey to the neighbouring village and dragged to this cave with ferocious cries of joy, for the girl was beautiful. The cavern swarmed with wild laces. Their gleaming eyes glittered all around like jewels in black tapestry. Knives and carbines shone. They surrounded the young girl. She resembled some pale beautiful garden-lily in the midst *of a bouquet of wild flowers. A torch lit op the cavern — the bandits' eyes became luoies. But Carlini, looking into the girl's face, became pale suddenly. - He threw himself before the prisoners,

a long knife shining: in his hand. "It mast be ransom," he cried. "No harm must befall them. It must be ransom."

A tall fellow sprang forward at the girl. " She is tny capture," he cried. And then he screamed again, with the heft of the knife vibrating in his breast. He lay upon the floo-, his .white fingers plucking at it feebly like those of an infant.

" A ransom," repeated Carlini, smiling, and smoothing his moustache ; "I will wait here." They rushed out of the cave like wild beast 3.

Now Carlini waited outside, leaning upon a boulder. Not a muscle of his figure moved. Emotions flitted across his face like a shadow of clouds gliding over granite. Suddenly he knelt at the y foot of the rock, the growing emotion burst into his countenance as a bud bursts into flower, and transfigures it. " Marie," be murmured. "Little Maria in heaven."

'I he kneeling statue moved its lips. The gloom grew denser. He seemed to be kneeling in some great silent cathedral, wrapped in gloom, with tlrtf stained glass windows of the west pouring in a flood of colour. A bell chimed musically far off, the sea was a gloi ious I carpet of blue and gold, and piercing the gloom the mountaia crest glittered i like a cross j " Maria, Maria, in Heaven." |

The western sky seemed some great rout of joy — some gorgeous pandemonium with streaming ribbons of gold and crimson and blue. It resembled the palette of some giant artist piled with masses of bright colour, uncons sciously representing some changing picture of fairyland — golden domes and minarets, clouds like oranges, clouds like apples, floating like gorgeous balloons. From the golden clouds the sunbeams poured in a golden rain, like some great ambushed cannon shooting into the sea. And up from tho eait the stars were springing like bright larks overspreading the sky. The mountain peak was stabbing the dusk like a golden-tipped spear. The plain became dotted with lights. It seemed an ocean reflecting the stars. The bell pealsd as though locked by the waves.

All at once the brittle silence was shivered by a shower of rifle-shots. Carlini leapt to his feet like a startled deer. A small wood upon bis left grew out of the mountain like a beard. Figures like red fleas began to leap from it and run up the mountain side, some screaming like animals trapped. The skirts of the wood seemed swarming with fiery serpents, shooting red tongues in the dark. The mountainside was covered with running men, illumined with crimson flashes. One man sqnealed out suddenly, and falling, lay screaming upon the ground. In the dark a red tongue licked him The screaming ceased." " Biffo," said Carlini. " A pig." All tbiH passed* before his vision like a scene in a theatre upon a darketed stage. The horizon was of the colour of blood. Then suddenly about a hundred ya'ds benoath him, the red robe of a torch, illuminated the head of a man in a large straw hat — a crimson study on a black backgroundv It moved to and fro. It seemed some gory, trunkless head leading on tho soldierp.

Carlini smiled gently and raised his carbine. Renting the barrel upon the boulder he followed the head about for a little while like a man gazing ut something through a telescope. The solitary shot followed — the head and torch disappeared like a spectre. At the same moment a bright girdle of torches surrounded him and began to be drawn tight. A voice exclaimed, '•Fifty piastres for the man who brings him down 1" The carbines all glittered beneath the roses like bright thorns.

Carlini turned quietly and entered the cavern. A fire was burning in a corner like a pile of rubies. The darkness of the cave blushed at the kiss of its red lips. The old man aud his daughter sat upon the floor wrapped in each other's embrace — the white and the brown hair minded. The old man's head was bowed and his eyes fixed on the floor ; the girl's eyes searched the darkness like lanterns. Suddenly she perceived the figure of Carliui, which seemed to rise to an immense height in the red flicker. She fell upon heir knees, and Carlini stood motionless.

1113 eyes of fire met those of the young jrirl ; they became rivotted on hers. The throe figures seemed a group of statuary ?fulptured in red marble.

Then Carlini spoke. His deep voice filled th« cavern with sound. "I am Carlini," he said, " and the soldiers' will lie here in a moment. Whether they find me or not depends upon myRilf lii this cavern is a hiding-place known to none but myself. They will never discover it unless they are told of its existence. Corpses cannot speak. Deal men tell no tales, or women either — or women either." The face of the bandit grew fierce. He drew a glittering knife, and stood like a sculptured impersonation of murder. The old man did not raise his head ; the girl seemed an ivory figure breathing. A minute passed. The bell was chiming faintly like a tiny clock. The upliftel knife flashed back into its sheath.

" Take your life, old man. Take your life, girl, and with it I give you mine 'into your keoping. Give it to the soldiers if you will — you have my ]'t>nniß9ion. JKemember me in your prayers,"

He disappeared into the gloom like a spectre.

I'lion fell a great stillness in the cavern. This mouth of the mountain appeared to he holding its breath. The flames of the fire rose and fell like wit cites dancing.

" Maria," said a deep, tremulous voice. The girl raised her eyes, and high up near the roof she perceived the head of Carlini gazing upon her. As she looked it disappeared.

Suddenly the darkness at the cavern's tnnntk* flushed angrily like the dawn. The tracery of the.bushes which covered it shone black against; the crimson light. A low, deep muttering broke in the angry voices of men. A torch flickered in the mouth of the cavern like a red tongue, the bushes were torn aside, and a band of soldiers entered. They cried : "Death to Oarlini !" <• The murderer of old men !" "The ravisher!" "Death !"

The r?d eyes of the torches searched the cavern. The weapons of the soldiers shone.

Then the captain of the soldiers said :'• Where ib Oarlini, girl ? The robber and murderer. Which way did he go?"

A feilence followed The soldiers stood as on parade. Tlio girl raised h'T head antl fixed her eyes on the officer. '• He has escaped," she said slowly.