Now that he
had broken definitely with his old life, they espoused his cause almost
to a man, and at last he had the joy of seeing himself at the head of a
very respectable band of nearly fifty determined men. The majority of
them were for advancing to the enemy without a day's delay, and striking
a decisive blow once for all. But Pomponio refused.
"No,", he said. "Wait until the excitement of last night dies away; then
we shall stand a better chance of winning. But now the mission will be
on guard, and we should be defeated."
This cogent reasoning prevailed, but the hotheaded youths grumbled much
and long at the delay.
Pomponio, himself, chafed at their enforced inaction, necessary though
he knew it to be. Then another thing that troubled him was the thought
of his wife. Would they think she knew of his attempt that night, and
punish her? He had told her nothing, but whether she could make the
Father believe it, was another matter. Much he wished he could have some
communication with her, and tell her where he was, and beg her to join
him.
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