New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-06-02
a nfountain As1xsnturs.

d my companion and guide was James 4: Grover, an
American painter Of seine mute, whom hau known
"a 9 s e. sis as;' " was s e ss ss
Bologna Grover and myself sat upon one Of the
balconies OF our chamber, engaged u conversation
) over our cigars, and after We had talked uwne q
tha various things re had seen during the day. he
ssSed me if he had ever told me OF his adventure
upop the Apprentices told him had never heard II.
.-Then / INST tell il 70 you" he said, throwing
I. away bis cigar: and taking sip Of wine.
n lighted fresh cigar, and be related to me as
Il oFour years ago this summer my brother and two
SISTERS visited me here in Florence. They spent two
weeks with me- and then started for Venice by way
Of Bologna. where they had friends whom they were
anxious to see | should have gone with them had
/ | not been engaged upon work which had prom
ised to have done within given time but as it was,
we made the thing work very we'll, for my brother
friend who was shortly expected from Rome and IL
was arranged that should take the money when It
came, and bring it with me to Venice when got
ready to meet them there. My brother left the
necessary document for the obtaining Of the money,
and ia due time set out.
On the very next day was taken i'll, aud was
confined to my bed week, but got out and finished
my work Just as the friend arrived from Rome with
the money. He delivered II into my hands upon the
production Of my brothers written Instructions, and
set the next Monday as the day on which /
would start was really not fit to undertake such
journey, but could not miss seeing my sister
the money easy enough, but promised myself too
much pleasure with my dear relatives in Venice to
miss it now.
Monday morning came, and could not arise
from my bed without assistance. sort of neuralgia
affection hsd seized all my nerves. and was forced
to stay indoors and to resort to hot baths and edi
| cine. Bat on the following morning felt able TO
start, aud did Upon reaching Pistnja learned
that there was no diligence TO leave before the next
| day | could not stand this. was already behind
time, and, II the thing could be accomplished must
go on. There was "a diligence under the she'd but no
one to drive it. But can't we hire some one =
asked II sgnor win pay, was the laConic reply.
OF course would pay; and though the sum charged
was pretty round one yet did not hesitate. The
numbering vehicle was dragged out four miserable
looking horses were attached and then yoke Of
stout oxen htched on ahead Of them. Two rough
looking fellows were provided, one as a refiyino
(postilIon) and the other to drive the oxen Thus
provided, took my seat, and the diligence started.
We were to cross the Apennines by the Pass Of
La Collina, and just begun to ascend the rugged
mountain path when heard q loud halooing behind
and in moment the diligence stopped.
whats the matter r. asked, poking my head
out through the opening by my side.
1.-TWO men want to ride, returned the vetturno.
"But | have hired the diligence and am in hurry;
50 drive on. II they wish to ride they must wait
until tomorrow
But the drivers were not to be governed thus.
1T won't make bit OF difference they said
Well go Just as fast; and besides, they'll pay US
something
By this time the eause OF all the trouble made its
appearance in the shape OF two dark-vssged black
bearded powerful men, who looked ugly enough for
the incarnation OF murder. | recognized one of
them as fellow whom had seen hanging about the
hotel at Florence, and the other was confident
had canght glimpse Of just as the diligence left the
Twas upon the point Of speaking when the thought
occurred to me that had better keep my knowledge
OF the Italian language to myself. might find out
the character of the fellows thus. knew very well
that further remonstrance would be useless for the
drivers were stupidity hoggish, and the new appli
cants were clearly not men TO be argued with. The
door was opened, and the fellows entered occu-
pied the back seat, and they took the seat at the
other end, fixing themselves 20 as to face me- They
looked at me out of wicked eyes, and as they threw
back their short cloaks L saw that they were well
armed
Hope we don't trouble your said one Of them.
in coarse Italian, as the diligence started on.
4 gazed inqniringly into his face, but made no
reply;
No comprehend, signori' said, shaking my
English he suggested, with shrug Of
his shoulders.
=. No-Irish. ! / told him.
Ughr he granted, with another shrug OF the
broad, massive shoulders, and an awful scowl OF the
face.
We had now begun to ascend the mountain in
good earnest, and our pace was slow and numbering
The fellow who drove the oxen made noise enough
for an army, while the blows upon both oxen and
horses fell bard and thick, but without accomplishing
anything, Had been alone l might have enjoyed
The magnificent scenery which unfolded itself below
us erept up the Collina; but as it was could
pot think Of anything save the two men who had
forced themselves upon me- Pretty soon one of them
spoke, and though appeared not to notice them, yet
could see that they were watching me closely.
- Death and destruction he uttered, in his own
tongue, we shall be over the precipice il that
drunken driver Is not careful 2
read the fellows purpose In a moment and not
n..sr ....4l .nf.n a
had said. My eyes were half closed and to all APP
pearance was unconscious even Of their presence.
Of them. - N'''' 0'''
q All safe. returned the other
Alter this they conversed together quite freely
and was not long In having my worst fears realized
But not change could they detect in my counter
ance, | kept my knowledge secret as the very
grave, and all my feeling was within me. After
awhile they became satisfied that knew nothing Of
their language, and they became more bold in their
speech. aud talked their plan oil over and from
them learned the following highly interesting par
The one whom had seen in Florence had BY
some means learned that was TO carry quite large
sum OF money With me across the mountains and be
had come on to Pistoia, where bis confederate was
TO await my arrival, intending to rob me there, if
possible. But when they found that was to 90
alone In the diligence, they had better plan. They
would rob me on the mountain. The two drivers
were friends Of theirs and were TO be paid literally
tHtuietitts 10 DC overcome. Inc
talked about cutting my throat shooting me through
the head, or plunging knife TO my heart, and then
throwing me over the precipice, as cooy as though
they had been planning the death of fowl for din
ner The place where they were to murder me was
about a mile distant where the road would round
high crag, with an almost perpendicular wall of rock
upon one hand, and deep chasm on the other.
This was an Interesting position sure enough.
was weak--weak at best--but donbly weak now with
my illness land the only weapon had was single
pistol. Either Of the brigands could have thrown
me over his head with ease and as for fighting with
them, that was out Of the question: What could |
90 Both the drivers were in league with them. II
eaped from the diligence, should die on the SPOT
where l landed II / shot one Of the bandits the
other would annihilate me in moment. had the
gold in small travelling bag under my feet and as
the heavy carriage ioed over the stones the yellow
pieces jingled sharply and could see the ewes of
the villains sparkle like stars.
"At length the high, craggy peak was ia sight
and could where the road wound abruptly around
it. Thus far had been torturng my brains to in
vent some way OF escape, but without effect was
as thoroughly hedged In as though bound by iron
chains And in few minutes more all would be
oyeri Still ] felt for my pistol aud had it ready.
Presently the diligence stopped at the foot Of an
abrupt rise and the fellow who drove the oxen came
and told the bandits they must get out and walk up
They stepped out at once, and IN moment more
heard scuie looked out Just in time TO see both
the drivers lashed together by the arms back TO
BACK They must have been placed ready for the
operation, for the thing had been done with incred
Die quickness. drew my pistol and awaited the ne.
salt. My heart was IN my mouth Int tho iufanea