The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-11-10


I was thoroughly hedged in as bound by
iron chains And in few moments al
would be overl Still I felt for my pis
tol and had it ready.
Presently the diligence stopped a.
the foot OF an abrupt rise. and the fellow
who drove the oxen came and told IN!
bandits they must get out and walk up
they stepped out at once, and in mo
ment heard slight scufle. I loohed
out in time to see both the drivers Ia shed
together by the arms back to back
They must have been placed ready .oi
the operation for the thing had beer
done with incredible quickuess. / drew
nv pistol and awuited the result. My
heart was in my mouth, but the intense
excitement rendered me strong for
while. -ss.
In a few seconds one of the villains
came and poked the muzzle of a huge
pistol into my face.
"Goldy Gold!" he said. Give me
gold or die
It was but the work of q second to
knock his weapon down with my righ;
hand, while with my left ] brought W
my own pistol and fred. The ball en-.
tered between his eyes, and he reeied
back and fell. Then 1 leaped after him
for I saw his comrade on the other side.
L hoped to gain the dead mans pistol
but ere could do so, the heavy hand Of
the living bandit was upon my shoulder
aud his pistol aimed at my head. With
an energy which the presence of deatf
alone begets, l knocked his weapon
down, and erappled with him. He hurl
ed me to the ground as though 1 had
been child, but before he could follow
up his advan tage the postillion cried ou
Hold Marico! A vetturais coming
The robber turned, and in a moment
more heavy vettura, with four horses
attached, came round the corner full
upon US. 1 started to my feet, and saw
my brother looking from the window.
.Help-Robbers = 1 shouted with all
my might.
The bandit had taken aim at the vet
turino of the new team, but he was toe
late. My brother had comprehended
tie whole truth in moment, aud with
sure aim AID quick one too, he shot
the villain through the heart.
We secured my two drivers, and ther
matters were quickly explained. 1 told
my brother all that had happened, and
he then told me that he had heard of my
illness, and was coming back to see me
One of my sisters had been i'll at BOlog
ma, SO that they had not gone to Venice,
but were waiting until should be able
to join them.
You can imagine how deep our graf
itnde was and how fervently we blessed
God for his fortunate interposition. -
My joy seemed to lift me from the pain
1 had suffered. and 1 felt better than
had before for weeks.
And what shall we do next? Should
| we let the two rascally drivers go, and
turn about for Bologna?
No. said my brother. Our sisters
won't expect US for three days; SO We
will carry these villains back and give
them up, aud tomorrow we'll 60 over
in my rs.tura.
We tumbled the two dead bodies into
the diligence, and then bound the two
| drivers hand and foot and tumbled them
in after. The oxen were cast adrift, and
| my brothers vetturiuo mounted and
| started the heavy hack, while we as
| sumed the control Of the vettera our.
selves.
! The drive down the mountains was
quickly preiormed, and the city of Pts,
| toia was reached without mishap. The
two dead men were recognized as old of
] tenders at once, and my testimony very
quickly settled the business for the dri-
vers.
On the next night We were in Bolo'
gna, where my sisters received me with
open arms, and two days afterwards we
we're all in Venice.
So much for my trip across the Ap'
pennies. And let me say to you, if you
ever have occasion to hire special dill
igence, with strange drivers, to ride
over the mountains ofItaly, be sure that
/ you are we'll armed, and have trusty
friend with you if possible