Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-12-10

| low as we crept up the Collina but as was
could not think Of anything save the two men
| who 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.
sDeath and destruction he uttered in his
own tongue, I'VE shall be over the precipice if
that drunken driver is not careful
read the fellows purpose in moment,
and not movement betrayed my understand
ing Of what he said My eyes were half clo-
sed, and to all appearance was unconscious
even Of their presence.
''de's right. He don't understand us, said
one Of them.
"AH safe," returned the other.
After this they conversed together quite
freely aud ] was not long in having my worst
fears realized. But not change could they
detecfS;n my countensnce. | kept my kuowl-
edge as secret as the grave, and all my feeling
was within me. After while they became
satisfied that 1 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 par
] ticulars:
The one whom / had seen in Florence had,
d
large sum of money with me across the noun
tains, and had come on to Pstoja, where bis
confederatcs were to await his arrival, intend
ing ta rob me there, if possible. But when
they found that | was to 60 alone IN the dill
gence, they had better plan. They would
rob me on the mountain. The two drivers
were friends Of theirs, aud wer to be paid lib
orally for allowing themselves to be overcome.
The villains talked about cutting my throat
shooting me through the head, or punging o
knife TO my heart, and then throwing me over
the precipiee, as coClly as though they had
bep planning the death of fowl for dinner
TLa aIace they to murder me was about mile
distant, where the road wound around high
crag Will an almost perpen dicular wall Of rock
upon one hand, deep chasn The other.
This was al interesting position, surely. |
was aeak--weak al best, doubly weak Eow with
my iiiuess--and the only weapon ! had was a
single pastel Either of the briginds could
have thrown me over his head With ease, and
as for fighting with them this was out of the
& question. What could do! Both the dri-
vers were in league with them. Ii leaped
from tue diligence, should die on the spot
where landed. If ! SHOT Que Of the bandits,
the other would annlhilate me iu moment. !
had llIo gold in a small travelling bag at my
at my feet, and as the heavy carriage jolted
over the stones the yellow pieces jngled sharp
ly, aud | could see the eyes of the villains
sparkle like stars.
At length the high eraggy peak vas ii sight.
aud | coud sec where the road wound abrupt
" around il. Thus far | had been torturlng
my brains to invent some way of escape, but
without effect, / was as thoroughly hedged in
J as though bound by iron chains. And IN a few
minutes all would be over! Still felt for NY
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 the bandits they must get
out and walk up They stepped out at once,
and in q moment | heard slight scnffle. |
! 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 op-
GRAFTON, for the thing had been done with in
: credible quickness. | drew my pistol and
awaited the result. My heart was in my mouth
but the intense excitement rendered me strong
for the while.
In few seconds one of the villains came
and poked the muzzle Of huge pistol IN my
face.
"Gold Gold !" he said, "Give me gold OF
ole :"
1t 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 fired.
The ball entered between his eyes, and he reel
ed back and fell. Then leaped after him;
for | saw bis companion coming up on the 9TH
er side. / hoped to gain the dead mans pistol,
/ i he hnnd n nn
living bandit was upon my shoulder, and his
pistol aimed at my head With an energy
which the presence of death can alone beget, l
knocked his weapon down and graPpied with
him. He hurled me to the ground as though !
bad been child; before he could follow up his
advantage, the postillion cried out:
"fiold, Marco, yettura is coming 81
Tho robber turned, and in a moment more a
heavy yettura, with four horses attached, came
round the corner full upon us started to
nv feet, and saw my brother looking from the
window.
"Help robbers" shouted.
The bandit bad taken aim at the yetturino
of the new team, but he was too late. My
brother had eomprehended the whole truth III
moment. aud with sure aim, and quleE
one. too, be shot the villain through the
heart
We secured my two drivers, and then mat
J ters were quickly explained. told my broth
er what had happened, and be then told me he
had heard of my illness, and was coming back
f 10 see me- One of my sisters had been Ill al
E Bologna, so that they had not yet gone TO We
nice. out we're Visiting until | should be able
10 ioiu them. You can imagine how deep our
gratitude was, and how fervently we blessed
, God for his fortunate interposition. My JOY
seemed to lift me from toe pam had suffered
and felt better than | bad felt before fol