There were sentries stationed at intervals all round the outer wall, as round the walls of a prison, and they would have little chance of life if they remained at their posts.

Giovanni ran like a deer, but even so he lost many seconds in giving his orders to each sentinel, to run straight for the open fields to the nearest cottages and to give warning.

The astonished sentinels obeyed instantly, and Giovanni ran on.

He reached the very last just too late; at that moment the thunder of the explosion rent the air.

He felt the earth rock and was thrown violently to the ground; then something struck his right arm and shoulder, pinning him down; he closed his eyes and was beyond hearing or feeling.
Within three-quarters of an hour the road to Monteverde was thronged with vehicles of all sorts and with crowds of people on foot.