Polynesian., 1858-05-29
HONOLULU, MAY %, 1858
Gbe 1Dolpnesiau.
The Avenging Hus band.


heavy diligence, and would arrive long before the
huge conveyance. 1t was, besides, q smoother
and more grateful mode of travelling, than by
male-poste. As to the propriety of going forward
at all that night-t was the proprietor of a wayside
house of entertainment who was speaking-lt was
not of course for him to counsel monsieur. (shrug)
He would merely submit (shrug) that certain in
tames had been heard of lately along the road
wretches who came from behind hedges, and used
travellers with small courtesy. Mon Dieu! was it
not only the other day that the Great st. Omer
diligence was stopped by band of these larronS
the ilfated UOyageurs being stripped ofeverything
even to their upper garments? 1t was not for him
to speak. There was in his house cheer of the
very best; everything comfortable. On the NOR
row there would be ravishing weather; and if he
were in monsieur's place
There was sound philosophy in what the good
host putting forward and there was, besides,
a snug aspect about his house even more seducing
than his arguments to say nothing of a certain
persuasive SAVIOR, as of impending b0uiis and rich
potdgeS. But it fell out, unhappy, that | was
| journeying homewards in hot haste, and could net
afford to lose an hour. ! must confess, too had
but slender faith in the robber-legends, holding
them as transparent innkeeper's device for the
| decoying of week and timorous souls.
| When, then, did this malle-post come by?
1t would be here in-say about half an hour, at
| say six o'clock. The cuisinier would just have
time to get ready the dvines little 6tlik or cOteH
ette with garnish-say of pistachio-nuts with
welcome) or, indeed, anything else that monsieur
would please to name. AS to wine, flask of the
choicest should be standing before monsieur in
rather less than clin dell
Flinty indeed must have been the heart that
could have withstood mine hosts wistful Offer
Though believed not in his biftiks and pistachio
gsrnish, no, nor in the acid-watery mixture which
4 dchO tIU Houro ha fah / folt
though had defrauded him of his anticipated prey,
and bound in honor to do something for the good
of the house. So he went his way rejoicing, and
| soon was busy with all his household manufactur
| ing the strangers bfiik. Such virtue as mine was
not to go without its fitting reward. In course of
time the bJlk came up, strangely charred and sod
den-a grlstly strlngy, morsel; and the wine, but
for its TINT an admirable substitute for tablevne
gar.
In about half an hours time, when was look
ing ruefully at the bfiik, which remained much in
the same state when it came up, l heard the
sound of wheels and horses hoofs Gathering over
stones outside. Running over to the window, |
the malle-post coming up in good style to the
door. 1t had grown dark by this time, but could
make out pretty well what kind of vehicle it
light brtZka-lke vehicle, with capacious hood
and huge springs, with pair offiery rough-coated
quadrupeds attached, who bore signs of having
come this last stage at a headlong pace-this was
the mallepOste. Seated aloft with his horses well
in hand, was a smart moustached fgure-the dri-
yer of the malle-poste-now busy cracking his
whip and calling to the inhabitants of the inn with
melodious Ola! Ola! He could give some ac-
count, if called on, of terrific hillside descents of
desperate precipices barely shaved, of runaway
beasts with bit between their teeth-all, perhaps,
all within the compass OF the last stage. There
he sat, chanting fragments OF poste-song popular
among his brethren, cracking his whip en- rrai ar
Hor nd
maledction ceS gens-id to come forth. 10 him
presently appeared the overworked being who per-
formed the various duties of gdrcoH ostler, boots,
flLe-de-chambre, and very likely, judging by the
days performance, those of chief cook. He
brought pail of steaming compound for the horses,
furnishing besides, pleasing recreation to the drl-
yer on the box. who was sklfully directing strokes
of his whip within perilous range of the attend
ants person. This | noted from the window,
waiting until it should please mine host to bring
me his little account. But looking further into the
depths of the vast hood, made out something that
looked like the shadowy outlines of figures, slgnlh-
cant of the presence of fellow-travellers. At the
same moment, sounds Of excited language, min
ged with sacrss and such proane adluration, reach
ed my ear. L stood out on the top of the stairs to
listen. "Are we to stay here all night? What
do we wait for; is not every minute precious to
me- We must get forward to night | tell you.
Ten thousand sacrss, yes." Host in mortal fright,
was murmuring something about a stranger who
was going that night. "What stranger?
Where is he? The malle-post is for us, hear you
for US alone" By this time | was standing upon
the top of the last flight, and saw in the hall, by
the light of Pickering rush-candle held by the
host, figure with coal black hair and beard ges-
ticulating violently. When he perceived me de-
scending the stairs he became quite calm OF sud-
den, and taking of his hat, bowed low to the
ground.
Monsieur is to be our con,pdgnOn de vOyase, it
seems" he said, in deep musical voice. 1t
will enliven our dreary progress wonderfully.
Permit me to make myself known to you as Nj.
Porotte. Madame, who is in the carriage, will be
charmed to know you."
could only reciprocate such truly French ap-
proaches by others gracious, and was being des-
olate at the bare idea of incommoding madame,
when there came to us in clear tones from the box
of the mae-poste, ".Sdcrs 6leu messieurs ! why do
we tary? These fdguins of mine are pulling like
ten thousand devils!'
AHons Done" said NJ. Poirotte, making for
the door. "After you, yes, after you.'
And at some risk from the capricious movements
of the horses, with difficulty lifted into the
MALE poste, and found myself seated safely facing
my new fellow passengers. With a sudden lurch
our steeds sprang off, scattering stones and gravel
prOfusely; hollow concussion, repeated at inter-
walls, signifying that the body Of the vehicle had
been struck by the hoofs of these spirited animals
After few versts or so of journeying, NJ. Poi
rotte begged to be allowed the honor of introduce
ing me to madame. could see nothing of mad
ame's face or figure but low voice came forth
from the depths of the hood, murmurng some
sounds could not well make out. Presently NJ.
Poirotte grew communicative, and, it must be con-
fessed, very entertaining sundry passages OF his
past life, which were of Bohemian tinge. He
had travelled many lands and had seen strange