PICCOLETTA'S ESCAPE. 231 



the storm had rendered, fortunately, less toilsome than usual 

 to travel over. Once I looked behind me, and saw the Ogre 

 risen from his disturbed lair, and, perhaps, attempting to 

 overtake me ; but there was a good distance between us, and 

 if there had been none, I think I should soon have beat him 

 upon level ground, for he was moving slowly, after a most 

 awkward fashion, and, as far as I could discern in the twilight, 

 seemed to be walking backwards. My dear friends," con- 

 cluded Piccoletta, " you know the rest " and thus ended the 

 story of her escape. 



The veil of mystery was now drawn in part from before the 

 dreaded pitfalls; but the death which lurked within them 

 was not considered, by most of the listeners to Piccoletta's 

 tale, as a whit the less formidable in the palpable shape it 

 had now assumed. One old sage among them seemed, how- 

 ever, of a different opinion. 



" Are ive" said this individual, " the brave and wise citi- 

 zens of Monticello ? Are we among the number of those 

 noted republicans whose labours, policy, and military prowess 

 have been lauded for ages even by the most vain and arrogant 

 of all the giant tribes amongst whom we dwell ? And shall 

 we, in shameful terror, continue to tremble before one, or 

 perhaps a dozen, cowardly cruel monsters, whose strength lies 

 only in their artifice ? for do they not show plainly that they 

 fear to meet us, by lurking for ever under cover of their traps ? 

 My counsel is, that a strong party should leave the city, and, 



