Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-01-26

the usual berrettd. or cap Of the country. This
| ia knit of strong, thick wooen stuf and re-
sembles huge purse, with u wooilen tuit at
either end When put on, one tuft is thrust
in, so as TO make hollow, and it is TINS pull
led as far on the head as suits the convent
ence of the wearer, the other end hanging
down behind, or on the left side.
! THE two short ones, it appeared, we're
both chiefs, and called each other brother,
though they were not relatives. The rest
were tall, strong men, some OF them deeply
pittcd with the smallpox, and some bearing
| on their SCARED visages the indelible marks
of battle, or Of broil.
"When the wild rage Of hunger was ap-
peased,' and our souls had lost the desire OF
eating and Of drinking we talked of hunting.
and each one told some story OF wolt-hunts OF
goods shots, of tumbling into pits or ancient
excavations, whose mouths were overgrown
with bushes. and other haps and mishaps of u
hunters life, all parties of course avoiding the
most distant allusion to the peculiar profess
sion Of our guests.
"My intercourse with my countrymen OF
interior had taught me that they almost all
like pinch Of good snuff; so pulling out the
large. oblong black box, in which | usually
carried good supply to humor this little
weakness, offered it to our guests, who ap
peared to enjoyed the powdered weed. Then,
us | knew that half-confidences only to do
harm in such case, I pulled out my own
little snuff box of gold, and offered it to them,
saying:
Try this: this is better still"
No. Signore mill gro-ee, Ia thousand
thanks this is good enough for us.
And quietly put back the gold that gls-
tened in their eyes, without the slightest
movement on their part.
But" said the onc-armed chief, "excuse
me; has yoa: Excellency any powder to
spare.
"Oh yes. Here, bring out that large flask
Of powder and pour out half of on this piece
of paper for our brave friends here
$50 said, SO done. Half of our reserve
of powder was made over to them, and it was
received with many thanks.
AS the day was now coming to close. We
rose TO depart. Our mountain friends walked
on along with US, quietly conyersing. AS
we were passing over n small table-iand, one
of the chiefs stopped and said:
"Comc, let us fire at mark OF how ma
ny points is this powder of yours?"
Il ought, perhaps, to explain TO you that
our mode OF comparing the force OF powder
is to put some of it in a small brass tube
which answers as a charger. The inside Of
this little tube is set with small points at
equal distances, and with newly-purchased
powder we make several trials to find out
what quantity of powder gives most force TO
the ball
II told him il was Of six points.
"Then it must be very good.
"'Yd frateilO mettermi la mercG,' (go, bro.
ther. make me target said he 10 II monco,
(the mamed.)
We looked about US, but could not see ei.
ther any rock or any tree that would answer
for that purpose. Our one-armod friend,
however, quietly paced off two hundred PAGES,
and then pulling down his woolen cap over
his ears, and Strengthening up the top. so as
TO make of it q regular cone. terminating in
tuft, lie stood upright, as immovable as y
rock.
The other slowly raised his gun, appeared
to take caretr. aim, and fired.
Nv heroupon the target came walking
q1!e''y toward US. and showed us, without
any emotion, where the bullet had cut away
q part of the woollen tuft.
"Adesso Va tn fratcllo mettermi Ia merca
a me- (now, 60 you, brother, TO make tar
get for me-.
| THE other went of the same distance and
turned his back to us then taking oil his
Jarre!io. tcap,} he placed his feet about u
yard apart, and iGrniug the cap upside down,
held it so that the tuft Just appcarc between
, his legs.
In spite Of our conviction that II monc0
must be as good shot as the other we could
not repress thrill Of horror at the thought
, of Il man with whom we had just broken
bread being exposed TO such terrible danger.
But the cne.armcd bandit was Just as
, calm and collected as he was while munchng
cur provisions. Supporting his gun on the
stump of his left arm. he pointed it at first TO
J tla ,,rpupi t1an ro;yipr oroiuallv oc
, TO get the true line Of aim. he touched the
= trigger.
"As we saw the wool fly from the tuft We
/ all breathed more freely and saw with plea
, sure the second target come toward US as
composedy Us the first.
There was no more shooting after that
for no one cared to measure himself with such
marksmen, and il requires men of this temper
TO manage a 'branco d bandti.'
Some Of these chiefs are indeed men origi-
= na'y OF estimable character, whom the unen-
durable expressions of Il bad government
have driven to the mountains. and there is
among them generally rude sense of honor,
so that he who has drank of the same cup
with them is rot only safe from all wrong on
) their part but may count upon their friendly
offices with others
} "Not long after the shooting match, we
; came near the village, where we were making
: yillegiatura,' as it was perhaps rAo'eSome for
our friends to come Here the chief stopped,
| and as he courteously lifted bis cap from his
! head, thought they might still wish 10 levy
, tribute upon us, and that it would be wiser 20
iorestall their wishes than TO wait for their
demands.
Are you in want Of money my friend."
J oh no, Signore. You have given US
! powder and tobacco the two things most diff
iicult for us TO obtain, and We thank you.-
We are sorry that we cannot accompany you
any further: but if you should bo stopped or
: or interiered with at any time, either by day
, or by night, among these mountains, Just say
laying his hand upon his breast that La Zu
Pepe Uncle Joe) is your friend, and no man
will harm you" :,
} I'VE babe each other friendly ado, and
parted in peace.
II have but to add that Lu Zu Pepe' Is
country italian for 'Lo Zio Giuseppe The
, terms Uncle and Aunt are applied 10 al
most every man and woman in the villages,
! and we had already heard of 'Lu Zu Pepe as
the most resolute and renowned among Inc
bandits Of these mountains :,
JOIN MAcMuILES.