Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-13
DAILY EVENING STAR.
THE ASSASSIN OF THE PAS DE CALAIS
a Remarkable Series Of Grimes.

Il
1t happened during this time that one
OF the d,itgences running from Calais tC
Paris, through St. Omer, broke dowr
shortly after leaving the latter place. "a
which the conductors were obliged tc
take 1t back in order that it might be
repaired. As the damage was but of a
slight nature, it was not expected that
any serious delay would be incurred in
consequence. The passengers, who all
fortunately escaped without any serious
injury, were accommodated with room
In house by the wayside, where they
were to wait until the vehicle should bt
repaired and brought to the door. Among
them was a young Englishman named
Charles Ferrers, who was on his way ia
Paris, where he intended passing year
or two. knowing but little French, and
being the only Englishman in the com.
pany, this gentleman became tired Of
being cooped up in close room with a
party of foreigners, vino were all engaged
IN eager conversation with one another.
whilst he was silent and alone, and re-
solved to walk on awhile, until the dill
geaoe should overtake, him. Having
inquired of the the conductor the road
the coach would take, he went out, the
conductor assuring him that the vehicle
would pass and take him in before he had
proceeded far. a- -.-......-.. -. -
Busted with his own thoughts, the
young Englishman walked forward in a
meditative mood, little needing any one
who passed or any feature of the road.
In this fashion he went on, until he be.
came conscious Of having proceeded a
considerable distance, perhaps more than
two miles from St. Omer. The evening
was advancing, and shortly it would he
dusk. In some anxiety lac feared he had
taken the wrong road, and studiously
endeavored to recall the instructions OF
the conductor, in conjunction with the
course he had followed. However, as he
could not remember having passed SIM
gle cross-road or turning, the way from
st. Omer having been an unb-oken and
almost straight line, he speedily became
reassured, and continued to walk for
wards, though now at sauntering pace,
and with an ear attentively listening for
the sound of wheels. Being a student
and lever of botany, he was attracted
presently by a large bunch of curious
moses growing On bank at the road
sida, and went to examine them. Behind
this bank was thick grove of trees, OF
considerable extent, and stretching some
distances across the country. Whilst
STOPPING thus engaged, he became con-
scious of the sound of hard breathing, as
of some creature of the bank above him
and, looking up, perceived large wolf
dog on the top of the bank, standing in
an attitude Of fierce watchfulness, is
large red eyes fixed upon him, its mouth
open, and its long, thin tongue quiyerine
betwixt its jaws like flake of dull fire.
Besides the hostile bearing of the brute.
there was something sufficiently ferocioas
and alarming in its appearance to make
the startled Englishman draw back and
clutch his walking-stick with firne,
grasp. The creature was of great size ano
strength, and the hair that covered his
guant body was in an extremely rough
and disorderly state, especially around
its neck; and from the top of its head
large patch had been torn off, recently
and with great violence, as the bare bald
place was still marked with the blood
which had flowed where the hair had
been wrenched out by the roots. Fer
rerS had heard of the recent outrat ,s
when in England, and it is not surprising
that the remembrance ofthem now flashed
across his mind with panic-striking force
Involuntary he began to move backwards
towards st. Omer, regretting his own
in coming SO far alone in |
a country so notoriously infested, and |
,ursing the delay of the tardy diligence. |
As he moved away, the dog followed. |
springing from the bank and trailing
after his footsteps with crouchins,
gait, very singular and omin-
ous. 1t appeared to the frightened Fer
rers that the animal only awaited signal |
rom It's master or masters, who might |
be lying concealed close by amidst The
.rees, to fasten upon him and tear him
oy the throat as other victims had been
.orn. He looked fixedly at the brute, as
he retreated cautiously, and step by step.
but found he could not engage or fasci. |
nate its eyes with his own, as he might
nave done, he thought, had it been merely |
'beying the instincts of its own nature.
It did not look towards him all the time.
md seemed to avoid encountering his
glance, but crouched after him ste adily.
is long mouth open, its fangs displayed. |
is tongue still quivering betwixt its Jaws |
md, though turning its head from side
% side, maintaining so close a suryeil. |
ance over him, that the least movement
,f his stick was Immediately followed bv |
\ low growl. The creature was evidently |
acting in obedience to severe training |
It's ferocity was not awakened, its pas
'ions were not reused, and though it pur
sued him in a manner so sinister and
it had still the appearance
If dog acting under fear of the whip.
In this curious fashion, Ferrers retrea
ed some fifty PAGES. At that distance
rom the spot where he received the first
llarm, some large trees on the right-tl,
'ide from which the dog had issued
hrew their branches far across the road,
into dark gloom the dusk O.
he evening. Ferrers, whose apprehon
ions, founded upon the frightful stories
# robbery and murder which he had
leard, had already excited his nerves to
! most painful tension, WINGED and trem-
u