Pagina 274 di 788

In vain they searched for the Monk: all that they could discover

was that after the killing of the beast he had appeared for a

moment, had leapt towards the Count and Thaddeus, and, seeing

that both were safe and sound, had raised his eyes to Heaven,

quietly repeated a prayer, and had run quickly into the field, as

though some one were chasing him.

Meanwhile at the Seneschal's bidding they had thrown into a heap

bundles of heather, dry brushwood, and logs; the fire burst

forth, and a grey pine tree of smoke grew up and spread out aloft

like a canopy. Over the flame they joined pikes into a tripod; on

the spears they hung big-bellied kettles; from the waggons they

brought vegetables, meal, roast meats, and bread.