Fortunately their pistols had all been discharged, or
they might have shot the brave old man without coming to closer
quarters, but now they looked with some dread upon the glittering
blade he held so firmly!
That which has required some time and space for us to describe, was,
however, the work of but a very few moments of time, and the
robbers, having evidently made up their minds to take the lives of
the two persons now in the vehicle, divided themselves into two
parties and approached the volante at the same moment on opposite
sides.
"Come on, ye fiends in human shape," said the old man, flourishing
his sword with a skill and strength that showed he was no stranger
to its use, and that there was danger in him. "Come on, ye shall
find that a good blade in an old man's hands is no plaything!"
They listened for a moment: yes, that half-score of villains held
back in dismay at the noble appearance of the old man, and the
flashing fire of his eye.
"Ha! do you falter, ye villains? do you fear a good sword with right
to back it?"
But hark! what sound is that which startles the Montaros in the
midst of their villany, and makes them look into each other's faces
with such consternation and fear? It is a very unfrequented spot-who
can be near? Scarcely had the sound fallen on their ears, before
three horsemen in the undress uniform of the Spanish infantry,
dashed up to the spot at full speed, while one of them, who seemed
to be the leader of the party, leaped from his horse, and before the
others could follow his example, was engaged in a desperate hand to
hand conflict with the robbers.
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