Nino is a man who acts suddenly and infallibly in great emergencies.

He took Hedwig in his arms, and ran with her to where the mules were standing, twenty yards away.
The stout countryman from Subiaco, who had spent some years in breaking stones out of consideration for the Government, as a general confession of the inaccuracy of his views regarding foreigners, was by no means astonished when he saw Nino appear with a woman in his arms.
Together they seated her on one of the mules, and ran beside her, for there was no time for Nino to mount.

They had to pass the door, and through all its oaken thickness they could hear the curses and imprecations of someone inside, and the wood and iron shook with repeated blows and kicks.

The quick-witted muleteer saw the bundle lying where Nino had tossed it, and he picked it up as he ran.
Both Nino and Hedwig recognised Benoni's voice, but neither spoke as they hurried up the street into the bright moonlight, she riding and Nino running as he led the other beast at a sharp trot.

In five minutes they were out of the little town, and Nino, looking back, could see that the broad white way behind them was clear of all pursuers.