Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-06-26

medlclne. But on the following morn
ing felt able to start and did so
; Upon reaching Pistoja learned tina
there was no diligence to leave before
the next day. | could not stand this
l was already behind my time, and,
the thing could be accomplished. I mus
go ON. There was a diligence under
the shed, but no one to drive it. "Bu,
can't We hire some onew l asked "Ifsig
nor will pay" was the laconic reply
Ut course l will pay; and though the
sum charged was pretty round one
yet did not hesitate. The numbering
vehicle was dragged out; four miserable
looking horsesiwere attached, and ther
a yoke OF stout oxen hitched ON ahead ot
them. Two rough looking follows were
provided, one as retturinoa (postillion, J
and the other to drive the oxen. Thus
provided, | took my seat, and the dill
gcnce started
We were to cross the Apprentices by
the pass of La Collina, and Just begun
to ascend the rugged mountain path
when | heard IA loud hallowing behind
and in moment, the diligence stopped.
What's the matter I asked poking
my head out through the opening by my
side"
Two men want to ride returned the
vetturino.
"But l have hired the diligence, and
am in hurry, so drive ON. If they wish
to ride they must wait until to morrow. y
But the drivers were not to be rov-
ierned thus"
" 1t won't make bit of difference"
they said. well go just as fast: and
besides they will pay us something
"By this time the cause of all the trouble
made its appearance in the shape of two
dark visaged, black-bearded powerful
men, who looked ugly enough for the
incarnation Of murder. | recognized
one of them as a fellow whom had seen
hanging about the hotel at Florence, and
the other I was confident had caurht
q glimpse Of just as the diligence left
the yard at Pistoja.
" was upon the point of speaking
when the thought occurred to me that
had better keep my knowledge of the
Italian language to myself Knight find
out the character of the fellows thus.-l
knew very we'll that further rernon-
STRANGE would be useless for the drivers
were stupidly hoggish, and the new ap-
olicants were clearly not men to be ar
yued with. The door was opened, and
he fellows entered. / occupied the
back seat, and they took the seat at the
'ther end, fixing themselves SO as to
ace me. They looked me out of wick
ID eyes, and as they threw back their
hort cloaks saw that they were well
trmed.
Hope we don't trouble your" said one
# them, in coarse Italian, as the dill
renee started On.
II gazed inquiringly into his face,
'ut made no reply" |,
He repeated the remark.
No comprehend, signor," l said,
haking my head. Il
"Ah-English," !" he suggested, with a
hrug of his shoulders.
"No-Irish," / told him. T.
"Ughn he grnnted, with another F
hrug of the broad massive shoulders, !.
nd an awful scowl of the face. L
1--WE had now begun to ascend the 4
in good earnest, and our pace \
ras slow and lumbering The fellow s
rho drove the oxen made noise enough e
,r an army, while the blows apon both !,
yen and horses fell hard and thick, but {
.ithout accomplishing anything. Had G
been alone might have enjoyed the q
agnifcient scenery which unfoldcd it
,lf below us as we crept up the Collina;
ut as it was / could not think Of any n
ing save the two men who had forced a
emselves upon me. Pretty soon one U
them spoke, and though appeared n
it to notice them, yet / could see that q
ey were watching me closely. !
death and destruction!' he utter m
in his own tongue, "we shall be
,er the precipice if that drunken dri- "
r. is not careful" tt
~ read the fellows purpose in mo- II
ent. and not a movement betrayed my a
lderstanding Of what he had said. My IL
,es were half closed, and to all appear
zee was unconscious even of their Il
essence.
He's right. He don't understand .,
- said one Of them. Ioi
!" All safe returned the other. sc
q After this they conversed together al
lite freely, and ! was not long in hav- g,
{ nv worst fears realized. But not I
ange could they detect in my coun- in
nance. I kept my knowledge as se- al
ct as tile very grave, and all my feel til
Z was within me. After awhile they Sc
came satisfied that / knew nothing of 81
cir language, and they became more 70
ID in their speech, and talked their