mucchio

Updated: May 28, 2025

This is called the dead man's pile his "mucchio." Colomba stopped before the heap of foliage, broke off an arbutus branch, and cast it on the pile. "Orso," she said, "this is where your father died. Let us pray for his soul!" And she knelt down. Orso instantly followed her example. At that moment the village church-bell tolled slowly for a man who had died during the preceding night.

Prosper Mérimée - Colomba