Prosper Mérimée

Colomba, and Carmen Prosper Mérimée

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...slowly, and sideways, until he had put some distance between them. Then off he started again, tearing up the slope almost as fast as he had come down it, to meet a man, who, in spite of its steepness, was rapidly descending. "Help, Brando!" shouted Orso, as soon as he thought he was within hearing. "Hallo! Ors'Anton'! are you wounded? " inquired Brandolaccio, as he ran up panting. "Is it in your body or your limbs?" "In the arm." "The arm--oh, that's nothing! And the other fellow?" "I think I hit him." Brandolaccio ran after his dog to the nearest field and leaned over to look at the other side of the wall, then pulling off his cap--"Signor Orlanduccio, I salute youl" said he, then turning toward Orso, he bowed to him, also, gravely. "That," he remarked, "is what I call a man who has been properly done for." "Is he still alive?" asked Orso, who could hardly breathe. "Oh! he wouldn't wish it! he'd hp tnn rrmrh Vpvph about the bullet yn" p" '"«" hifr PYpl Holy Madonna! What a hole! That's a good gun, upon my soul! what a weight! That spatters a man's brains for you! Hark ye, Ors' Anton'! when I heard the first piff, piff, says I to myself: 'Dash it, they're murdering my lieutenant!' Then I heard bourn, bourn. 'Ha, ha!' says I, 'that's the English gun beginning to talk--he's firing back.' But what on earth do you want with me, Brusco?" The dog guided him to the other field. "Upon my word," cried Brandolaccio, utterly astonished, "a right and left, that's what it is! Deuce take it! Clear enough, powder must be dear, for you don't waste it!" "What do you mean, for God's sake?" asked Orso. "Come, sir, don't try to humbug me; you bring down the game, and then you want somebody to pick it up for you. Well! there's one man who'll have a queer dessert...