Byways in southern Tuscany . MoNTALCiNO. A Gateway CHAPTER VII MoNTALCINO II ONTALCINO continued to hold outstoutly but not without much sufferingfrom hunger, even the women laboringside by side with the men; and once,these women hearing their governorwas considering yielding up the town,went to him in a body and remon-strated declaring they would rather athousand times be buried under theruins of their own walls than surrender to the enemiesof Siena. The siege stretched itself out till it had reached eightydays; then one morning the people, very hungry andweary, beheld a strange sight: Don Ga
Byways in southern Tuscany . MoNTALCiNO. A Gateway CHAPTER VII MoNTALCINO II ONTALCINO continued to hold outstoutly but not without much sufferingfrom hunger, even the women laboringside by side with the men; and once,these women hearing their governorwas considering yielding up the town,went to him in a body and remon-strated declaring they would rather athousand times be buried under theruins of their own walls than surrender to the enemiesof Siena. The siege stretched itself out till it had reached eightydays; then one morning the people, very hungry andweary, beheld a strange sight: Don Garzias camp was indisorder, soldiers were shifting from place to place, beastswere being loaded, the very cannon were being moved. 107. BYWAYS IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY What had happened? Could it be possible the siege wasto be raised? They crowded to the walls with beatinghearts and with wild speculation watched the astonishingspectacle. Soon it was seen to be true, the army was inmotion, it was marching, it was headed down the moun-tain. Suddenly all the people went mad with joy, theyshouted, they embraced each other, and then they ran tocollect every musical instrument, every drum the townafforded; but this was not enough, any object that couldcontribute noise was added, housewives brought theirbrazen kettles, the children snatched basins and frying-pans and all flew again to the walls; never did the armyof an emperor retreating from an humble town like Montal-cino receive a salute such as fell upon the ears of DonGarzias departing soldiers. Every one blew or beatupon his instrument adding his voice in shouts andgibes, and I fancy that many an excellent kitchen utensilwas rendered useless on that day. When the army was a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttuscany, bookyear1919
