Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-06-06
AN ADVENTURE IN HUNGARY.


j On the third day after his departure from
1 Vienna, a horse dealer aighted at an inn sit
uated at the entrance Of a little town, which,
TO all appearances, was respectable and qui-
ct. He recommended his horse to the care
of the landlord; dried his clothes at the fire,
and, as soon as supper was ready, sat down
to the table with the host and his family,
who appeared to be decent people.
During supper the traveller was asked
where he came from, and on his answering
from Vienna, they were all anxious to bear
some news fromthe capital The.horse deal
er told them all he knew. The landlord
then asked him what business had taken
himto Vienna, to which he replied that he
had been there to sell some of the very fin
est horses that had ever appeared in the mar
ket there.
AT these words the landlord looked very
Significantly at the young man who sat OPP
posite to him, and who appeared to be his
son His expressive glance did not escape
the observation of the traveller, who howev-
er took no notice of it, he very soon after
ward had cause to regret his want Of caution.
Being in wa1t of repose, he begged the land
lord, as soon as the supper was finished, to
lshow linn to his room. The landlord took
lamp, and conducted the traveller across
I yard, into detached building, which con-
tanned two tolerably neat rooms. A bed
was prepared at the farther end Of the sec
ond.
>, As soon as the landlord had retired the
traveller undressed himself unbuekled mon
|ey belt containing sum in gold, and took
out his pocket-book which was full of Aus
r trian bank-notes. 7
Being convinced that his money was right,
/ he placed both under his pillow, extinguished
|, the light, and soon fell asleep, thanking God
and all the saints for the success of his jour
4 ney. He had slept but an hour or two when
. he was suddenly awakened by the opening
of the window, andimmediately felt the night
e air blow upon him.
f Startled at this unforeseen circumstance
: the traveller raised himself up in bed, ant
: perceived the head and shoulders of man
b who was struggling to get into the room; a
! the same time he heard the voices of fsevera
o persons who were standing under the win
: dow
h A dreadful terror seized our traveller, VIII,
e gave himselfu up for lost and scarcely know
', ing what he did, crept under the bed as quick
Z ly as possible. Amoment afterwards maj
q sprang heavily into the room, and staggere'
: up TO the bed, supporting himself against tn
wall.
q Confounded as the horse dealer was, b
re nevertheless perceived that the intruder wa
" inebriated; this circumstance however gav
y him little hope, for he had probably got IL
toxicated in order to summon up courag
st enough for the contemplated crime; beside
es this the traveller had heard the voices of PEI
n sons outside, so that the murderer in case
resistance, could count upon the assistance
ID his comrades.
n. But how great was his astortishment whe
he he saw the unknown person throw his Goa
r. upon the floor and stretched himself upo
I'd the bed which he had Just quilted A fey
moments afterwards he heard the intrude
4. snore, and his terror began gradually to CIV
es way to reflection, although the whole ahai
V. was quite incomprehensible to him.
il He was just preparing to quit his hidin
place, in order to awake the inmates of til
n house, and ask another bed in place of tbs
from which he had been so unceremoniousl
X expelled, when new incident occurred.
he He heard the outer door carefully opene,
h. and, on listening, the sound of cautious foo
steps reached his ear. In a few moment
ad the door of his room opened, and two figure
m those of the landlord and his son, stood 9
the Threshold.
he Keep the lamp back p muttered the fat
m er in suppressed voice.
;s- What have we to fearg said the your
man; we are two against one; besides
has only small knife with him, and is slee
en- ing seundly hear how he snores.'
is Do what tell you,' said the father a
lay grily do you wish to awake him? wou
ty. you have his cries alarm the neighborhood
)lie The horse dealer was horrifed with t
for spectacle. He remained motionless und
to the bed, scarcely daring to breathe. I
the son shut the door after him, and the t,
the wretches approached the bed on tiptoe.
An instant afterwards, the bed was sho
ork by conyulsive motion, and stihed crv
the pain, confirmed the foreboding, that the l
cor happy man in the bed had had his throat c
son After short pause, of awfulsilehce, the lar
!. lord said:
It is over now look for the money!
feet I have ii under the pillow said the 50
,gnt it is in a feathern belt and pocket-book.
ALI The murderers disappeared.
'een Everything being now quiet, the traveI
PIT crept from under the bed, jaamped out Of
the window, and fastened to the adjoining 70
the to inform the authorities of what had 4
pened.
Themayor immediately assembled the I
, ,unt' itary, and in less than three quarters Of
JufI, ho,,r 4h. ;,,r, .,.o- s.,.,....,... Ill