He was now at the spot in which his brother had left him; hastily he glanced behind, and saw the couched lance and horrent crest of the horseman close at his rear; despairingly he looked up, and behold! his brother bursting through the tangled brakes that clothed the mountain, and bounding to his succour.
"Save me! save me, brother!" he shrieked aloud, and the shriek reached Cola's ear;--the snort of the fiery charger breathed hot upon him;--a moment more, and with one wild shrill cry of "Mercy, mercy" he fell to the ground--a corpse: the lance of the pursuer passing through and through him, from back to breast, and nailing him on the very sod where he had sate, full of young life and careless hope, not an hour ago.
The horseman plucked forth his spear, and passed on in pursuit of new victims; his comrades following.

Cola had descended,--was on the spot,--kneeling by his murdered brother.

Presently, to the sound of horn and trumpet, came by a nobler company than most of those hitherto engaged; who had been, indeed, but the advanced-guard of the Colonna.

At their head rode a man in years, whose long white hair escaped from his plumed cap and mingled with his venerable beard.

"How is this ?" said the chief, reining in his steed, "young Rienzi!" The youth looked up, as he heard that voice, and then flung himself before the steed of the old noble, and, clasping his hands, cried out in a scarce articulate tone: "It is my brother, noble Stephen,--a boy, a mere child!--the best--the mildest! See how his blood dabbles the grass;--back, back--your horse's hoofs are in the stream! Justice, my Lord, justice!--you are a great man." "Who slew him?
an Orsini, doubtless; you shall have justice." "Thanks, thanks," murmured Rienzi, as he tottered once more to his brother's side, turned the boy's face from the grass, and strove wildly to feel the pulse of his heart; he drew back his hand hastily, for it was crimsoned with blood, and lifting that hand on high, shrieked out again, "Justice! justice!" The group round the old Stephen Colonna, hardened as they were in such scenes, were affected by the sight.