The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-07

sblein advance I'1sso. = - ana Psy'
lighted candle on marble commodc near the door.
he seated himself near me and beside tsble on
which he placed two loaded pistols and carbine.
which he examined and cooked, and laid my sword
upon my bed.
A number of curious thoughts passed fbrouoh
my brain. tickled at the idea OF . hero Of many
fights being dislodged from his encampment by q
few insects and my imagination suggested glow
ing picture of this wonderful campaign, which
would form the subject of an excellent farce And
then his timidity-to be afraid Of lonely landlord
with three women and holy priesti He would
make another Don Quixote lighting with wind
mill flock of Sheep 80 relished the thought
and the sight, that was unwilling to yield to Nor
pheus, whose magic influence had become heavy !;
but was beginning to doze when thought r heard
the creakiBg of the door, and looking through the
curtain, saw, or dreamed saw, faint shadow
dimly reiested upon the wall Turning TO thecap.
tain, perceived him cycling the door, with pistol
grasped in his hand which he was just raising,
when the door quietly closed, and all was silent
ABOUT an hour afterwards the same was repea-
ted, and sleep vanished from my eyes dared not
speak to the captain who did not close his eyes for
an instant, but kept them fixed with sentinel keen
ness upon the door, and his hand upon q pistol
He called US early ordered horses to be put TO the
carriage, and told Giuseppe to make coffee in the
mode he liked it. Giuseppe looked IN an inquiring
way caught his eye. and Immediately obeyed.
Inc Padre Joined US, and very meekly asked per-
mission to occupy seat in our caleche, which, to
my surprise, was courteously granted, and he was
nvlted to partake of our early repast. The cap
tain kept him in constant conversation, and al
though he changed his seat once or twice, always
M anaged to rise for something and sit opposite to
MIN, and never to be beyond reach OF his pistols-
was confounded, for they seemed to be playing
game at movements. At length the word was
gwen, Let US GOT and was curious to see how
the game would now be played, especially AZ some
additional peices had appeared the board in the
shape OF the landlords wife, daughter, and cham
ber-maid, all big buxom DANES, whose tall figures
much admired, but of whom my companion SEEM
ed as gu spicious as Of the holy father He passed
no compliments. and appeared much chagrined--
fethe managed matters most adroitly, his object,
as thought, being to let nobody walk behind u.s.
Signor. run and tell the position to mount the
white horse, for the black one sometimes kicks
Signor, please take these cloaks. and spread them
on the seats of the carriage. Girl, take the can
die Father Benevoluto, be kind enough to take
charge OF this bottle OF eaude.vie and put IL into
the far pocket of the carriage. Giuseppe, bring
this portmanteau. Andiamo said he pushing all
OF US before him as he followed with his firearms
In trice we were at the carriage door. Father
don't get out again; pray be seated. o Signor,
pray hold that black horse! Up, Giuseppe, and
keep this carbine in your hand, and look about
you for robbers. 1t is bad road. Ladies', addio!
Var
We were off before we knew where we were,
we had not preceded quarter of mile when he
called cut TO stor; and in hurried tome address,
ing Fra Carlo, said: Pardon me. Father Benevou-
to; have left some papers of importance on my
bed-do, pray, go and fetch them; we await your
return; and without stopping for his reply, opened
the door and helped him to descend. / was inst
beginning to offer my own services, when a grind
ing oath, half emitted, silenced me- Good father,
do be quick; for can trust nobody with those pa
pers on this vile road but YOURSELF no thief would
rob priest 1t was impossible to refuse; and Fra
Carlo set off at greater speed than had deemed
him capable using. When he was out of sight,
my companion ordered the position to drive on
quickly. He replied that we were to await for the
padre; but the captain Numbered out: 'Hark you'll
make no noise with your whip, but spur your
horses to gallop, and keep them gallopng till
bid you 60 slower The moment you stop or crack
your whip shall send a bullet through your head.
Va! OF we went, slap-dash; how long know not
for l was overwhelmed with surprise, afraid that
the captain had become derapged, and that might
be the first victim of his violent temper At length
he called out: "Pianol pianol' and we instantly
passed through st. Antonin, where we met mill
tary patrol, to whom the captain showed his pass
port, and said that there were suspicious charac-
ters on the road between this and LIE Mauvas Pas
The officer bowed low, and ordered his men to keep
a sharp lookout. As we proceeded, he smiled and
exclaimed: Now we are safe, and can take breath
little-thanks to the holy Virgin and all the guar.
dian saints for our deiverance3 ventured to say,
that though some things did look rather suspicious
in the inn, yet could not fix upon anything really
and should not have imagined any harm
unless had perceived him to be so much ON his
guard; that did not much like the landlord, yet
the woman were handsome, and was much
pleased with Fra Carlo but the priest and himself
seemed to be playing game at seats and places,
and he had certainly check-mated him atlasi.
'Yes, said he; it was game for life. So Carlo
Benevoluto has assumed the padre Dowl methinks
he will not long wear the cowl That man was in
nv regiment when was with the Austrians, and
IL e.. sl.A
but escaped through the artifces OF his brother,
priest who was shot at Marengo, as he deserved.-
He has forgotten me; but well remember him,
and that cash ON his forehead, which gave him,
when | cut him down, but missed splitting nis
skull And yon bed-there has been foul play
there You are yet a young dog OF war but !
can smell blood anywhere: instantly smelledit,
and traced it to the mattress, which found all
stained with gore. Had fallen asleep we should
both have slept there our last sleep, as many,
fear have done before but we shall hear if Cap
tain Bocci who passed last week, has arrived safe
" If not, they shall all be broken on the wheel
Those handsome women | will wager thousand
scudi they were men in disguise never saw
such women in Italy before. In such nmesns
these Young man, you must be always watch
ing if YOU value your life and love Madenoiselle
Fouchette and remember that walls have ears
aud eyes too Iintimated that thought 90 when
saw him pointing pistol at shadow twice du-
ring the night "A shadowl it was the shade Of Fla
Carlo, and such shadows play with stieffoes;
saw one when his cloak was of as passed through
his room to come to you. Ghosts do not finch from
a leveed pistol as he did
AT this moment, the Frenchman bade me iooK,
for we were approaching. the dreadful spo.-
There. indeed stood two ruinous houses, forming
a large mass of building, with small grated WIN
dows and high court, all shut up ana going 20 DE.
cav. He looked and shrugged his shoulders, and
continued: sThecursed bandits they met with q
deserved fate. The manner OF their capture |
have heard only by report, tor we returned TO
France by another route. One evening, at duck,
two horsemen rode up TO the inn but when the
large gate was opened, one of the beasts became
frisky and refused to enter. This frightened the
other, and they capered about to the great discon
fort of the landlord and his people, who could not
come into the gateway or shut the door because OF
their antics As they were becoming more quiet,
a posse of gendermerie dashed in and took posses
sion OF the premises. A search was instituted, and
the remains OF 200 or 800 human bodies were
found in the grounds, besides great deal OF con
cealed piunder. ! need scarcely cay that Italian
justice did dreadful work with the murderers and
the inn has been shut up ever since No one VIII
venture into tit is haunted but the Mauvais Pas
is still dangerous place for lone travellers' A
carbinier at this moment rode up, and asked our
party if we had seen any person on the road, for
robbery had been committed few days ago IN thst
place.