232 AN EXPEDITION. 



closely encircling the first pitfall to be found, compel the wily 

 occupant either to stay within and starve, or come out and 

 fall an easy prey to our united force." 



This spirited advice was generally applauded, but several 

 weeks were allowed to pass before it was acted on, the citizens 

 of Monticello only strengthening their fortifications, and con- 

 tinuing to keep as much as possible behind them. Of the 

 foragers compelled to go abroad, some, meanwhile, furnished 

 new victims to the still dreaded enemy, till at last, increased 

 scarcity and other evils, the result of measures entirely defen- 

 sive, seconded so powerfully the advice of the old counsellor, 

 that it was carried into practice. A numerous party was 

 assembled for the first expedition against the Ogres, and, by 

 her own particular desire, Piccoletta went with it. 



Under her guidance, the troop marched first towards the 

 pitfall whence she had escaped, not with any view of attack- 

 ing the Ogre who had occupied, but who they believed to have 

 been dislodged from it by the storm, but for the purpose of 

 strengthening their bodies, if not their hearts, by a plentiful 

 meal off the manna, or sweet bread, of the oak from which 

 their little pioneer had fallen. 



Having accomplished, without interruption, this desirable 

 preliminary, they had not proceeded much farther before they 

 came upon another excavation of which the ugly character, 

 could they have doubted it, was pretty clearly evidenced by 

 the appearance, near upon its verge, of several dead bodies, 



