mity, filled all men with a desire to
capture them or slay them. The story that was generally believed
was one which may be briefly described as occupying a position
somewhere about midway between the above startling fiction and
the truth. Such as it was, it had the effect of drawing forth
the population of Albano as it bad never been drawn forth before;
and as they went forth they presented a scene such as those of
which the mediaeval legends tell us, where the whole population
of some town which had been desolated by a dragon, went forth en
masse to do battle with the monster.

So they now marched forth,--
Men with scythes.
do. " hoes.
do. " rakes.
do. " shovels.
do. " tongs.
do. " brooms.
do. " bean-poles.
do. " carving-knives.
do. " umbrellas.
do. " stones.
do. " earthen pans.
do. " bricks.
do. " charcoal.
do. " chairs.
do. " spits.
do. " bed-posts.
do. " crowbars.
do. " augers.
do. " spades.
do. " stakes.
do. " clubs.
Men with staves,
do. " opera-glasses.
do. " sickles.
do. " colters.
do. " ploughshares.
do. " wheelbarrows.
do. " pitchforks.
do. " posts.
do. " beams.
do. " bolts.
do. " bars.
do. " hinges.
do. " pokers.
do. " saucepans.
do. " mallets.
do. " hammers.
do. " saws.
do. " chisels.
do. " ropes.
do. " chains.
do. " grappling irons.
together with a miscellaneous collection of articles
snatched up at a moment's warning by an excited
multitude, men, women, and children, headed by
Frank, who wielded triumphantly an old fowling-piece,
loaded with a double charge, that could do
no damage to any one save the daring individual
that might venture to discharge it.

CHAPTER XXVII.

_Arma Virumque cano!--The Chase of the Wild Boar!--The Prisoners
at the Window.--The Alban Army.--Wild Uproar.--Three hundred and
sixty-five Pocket Handkerchiefs.--Flame.--Smoking out the
Monster.--A Salamander._

Arma puerosque cano!

Sing, O muse, the immortal Albanian Boar Hunt!

How outside the doomed town of Albano lurked the mighty monster in
his lair.

How the frightened messengers roused the people to action.

How the whole population, stimulated to deeds of bold emprise,
grasped each the weapon that lay nearest, whether bolt, or bar, or
tool of mechanic, or implement of husbandry, and then, joining
their forces, went forth to do battle against the Fell Destr