The Kanzas news., 1858-12-18


| ipiee if that drunken driver is not careful!''
read the fellows purpose in moment,
and not movement betrayed my under
standing of what he said. Ny eyes were
half closed, and to ali appearance was un-
conscious even of their presence.
Hes right. He does not understand
u.s." said one of them. I ri b
Cali safe, % returned the other.
After this they icongersed together quite
freely, and was not long in having my
worst fears realized. But not . change
could they detect in my counteDance.
kept my knowledge as 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, and talked
their plan all over; and from them learned
the following highly interesting particulars:
The one whom had seen in Florence
had, by some means, learned that was to
carry large sum of money with me across
the mountains, and he had come on to Pts
toja, where his confederate was, to await my
arrival. intending to rob me there, if posi-
ole. But when they found that was to go
alone in the diligence, they had better
plan. They would rob me on the noun
tain. The two drivers were friends of theirs,
and were to be payed literally for allowing
themselves to be overcome. The villains
talked about cutting my throat, shooting
me through the head, or plunging knife
to my heart, and then throwing me over the
precipice, as coolly as though they had
been planning the death of fowl for din
neri The place where they were tn MUIR
der me was about mile distant, where the
road wound round high crag, with an al
most perpendicular wall of rock upon one
hand. deep. chasm on the other.
This was an interesting position, sure
enough. was weak-weak at best-but
doubly weak now with my illness-and the
only weapon / had was single pistol. Eli
ther 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 do? Both the drivers were
in league with them. If I leaped from the
diligence, should die on the spot where /
landed. If 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 jolted
over the stones, the yellow pieces jingled
sharply, and I could see the eyes of the vii
lains sparkle like stars.
At length the high craggy peak was in
sight, and could see where the road wound
abruptly round it. Thus far had been
torturing my brains to invent some way
of escape, but without effect. was as
thoroughly hedged in as though bound by
iron chains. And in few minutes all
would be over! Still felt for my pistol,
and had it ready. ~
Presently the diligence stopped at the
foot of an abrupt rise, and the fellow who
drove the oxen came and told tie bandits
they must get out and walk up. They
stepped out at once, and in a moment heard
slight scuffie. 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 incredible quick
ness. drew my pistol, and awaited the
result. Ny heart was la my mouth, but
the intense excitement rendered me strong
for the while. as bs.E 9i sl
In few seconds one of the villains came
and poked the muzzle of 3 huge pistol into
my face.
"Goldi Gold."' he said 'Give me gold
or die!'' e
It was but the work of second to knock
his weapon down with my left hand. while
with my right brought up my own pistol
and fred. The ball entered between the
eyes, and he reeied back and fell. Then !
leaped after him; for saw his companion
coming up on the other side. / hoped to
gain the dead mans pistol, but ere could
do so the heavy hand of the living bandit
was upon my shoulder, and his pistol aimed
at my head. With an energy which the
presence of death can alone beget, knock
ed his weapon down, and grappled @ith
him. He hurled me to the ground as tho
I had been child; but before he could fol-
low up his advantage, the postillioa cried
out: sa.z.s. z~a.t- .fstr ~ fH
"Hold. MARCEL yettura is eomingI''
s The robber turned, and in moment more
a heavy vettura, with four horses attached,
came round the corner full upon US. Istart-
ed to my feet, and saw my brother looking
from the window.
"Helpl RObbersl'' I shouted with al my
might. / i. ..f sse.l ...s
The bandit had taken aim 1t the yetturiHo
of the new team, but be Was too late. Ny
brother had compFehended the whole truth
ina moment, and with sure aim and .
quick one too, he shot the villain through
the heart. sss-ze s.sE.E
We secured my two drivers, and then
matters were quickly explained. told my
brother all that had happened. and be then
told me he had heard of my illness. and
was coming back to see me- One of my
sisters had been Ill at Bologna, 30 that they
had not yet gone to Venice, but were wait
ing until should be able 10 join them
You can imagine how deep our gratitude
was. and how feryently we blessed God for
this fortunate interposition. My JOY seem
ed 10 llft me from the pain had suffered,
and felt better than had felt for weeks.
"And what should We do next? Should
We let the two rascally drivers go. aud turn