Paul Pendril; Or, Sport and Adventure in Corsica

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.1866 Excerpt: ... tions as made Piero and the soldiers cross themselves until he was out of sight. He'll fall asleep on the road, said Pendril, and prohably capsize the panniers. Not he, said Piero; fear will keep him wide awake; but if his horse stumble under that burden, the fellow stands a chance of getting his head broken in the fall. In less than an hour after he had turned his back, the goatherds made their appearance; down they came, men, women, and children, numbering in all about a dozen souls, and driving slowly before them half-a-dozen black sheep, and at least three score of goats. It might be supposed that the presence of so many strangers, occupying with their tents the plot of ground on which their own huts were built, would at least alarm the natives, and probably create a jealous feeling which it might be difficult to appease. This, however, was not the case; none could be less disconcerted or more cordial in their demeanour than these poor peasants: they received the travellers with unaffected goodwill, and, as far as their means went, with genuine hospitality. The goats had scarcely been milked, before one of the women brought to the nearest tent a basket of chestnut bread, and a bowl of fresh, foaming goat's milk--offerings, like the Arab's salt, indiactive of peace, welcome, and good vicinage. Even the children ventured near the tents to examine, -with curious and inquiring eyes, the strange habitations raised so rapidly within reach of their huts. Certainly the contrast between the dwellings could not well have been greater; the cabins of the goatherd, built with blocks of massive granite, seemed as if they might endure for all ages, and defy all storms, come whence they would; then they looked so grey and so old that they might almost have claim...