236 A BRILLIANT APPARITION. 



hollow, a winged form shot upwards, like a sky-rocket. It 

 approached, glittering in the morning sun, then hovered high 

 above the wondering and admiring crowd. "A genius! a 

 genius!" they exclaimed; "a good genius, who has killed 

 the Ogre, and saved us from destruction !" 



Even as they spoke, the brilliant apparition descended slowly 

 from its aerian height, and, on four resplendent wings of im- 

 mense expansion, again hung suspended now close above their 

 heads. But not long did it thus hover its brooding was as 

 that of a kite over a flock of doves, and presently, kite-like, 

 it seized its victim, lifting it from amidst the deluded multi- 

 tude by help of sharp talons and a pair of crooked tusks, ter- 

 rible as those of the dreaded Ogre. 



. Their former fears swallowed up by this new alarm, the 

 discomfited force of Monticello hastened in confusion towards 

 their city ; but, before they reached it, one more of their 

 number was carried off by the same winged assailant, or 

 another resembling it, and rising in like manner, from anothef 

 of the ogre pitfalls. 



What had become, meanwhile, of Piccoletta? This was 

 an inquiry which, after they were safe within the walls of their 

 capital, suggested itself for the first time to those who had 

 left her in the lurch. When, however, they had time to 

 think of it, they felt shame enough, as they well might, at 

 their base desertion, to control even their new fears of their 

 new enemy, in defiance of whom a small party speedily re- 



