A man should never go abroad without his arms." "So be it.

I must follow the fashion.

Where are we going ?" Colomba, without answering, drew her _mezzaro_ closer about her head, called the watch-dog, and went out followed by her brother.

Striding swiftly out of the village, she turned into a sunken road that wound among the vineyards, sending on the dog, to whom she made some gesture, which he seemed to understand, in front of her.

He instantly began to run zigzag fashion, through the vines, first on one side and then on the other, always keeping within about fifty paces of his mistress, and occasionally stopping in the middle of the road and wagging his tail.
He seemed to perform his duties as a scout in the most perfect fashion imaginable.
"If Muschetto begins to bark, brother," said Colomba, "cock your gun, and stand still." Half a mile beyond the village, after making many detours, Colomba stopped short, just where there was a bend in the road.