Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-09-23


ance / was unconscious even of theil
lpresence.
| Giles right. He don'tunderstandus us,
said one OF them.
'All safe," returned the other.
CATER this they conversed together
quite freely, and / was not long in hav-
ing my worst fears realized. But not a
change could they detect in my counte
nance. kept my knowledge as secret
rs the very grave, and all my feeling
was within me. After while they be,
came satisfied that l 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 particu-
lars
"The one whom / had seen in Flor
ence had, by some means, learned that
| was to carry quite large sum of mon
ely with me across the mountains, and
he had come on to Pistoja, where his
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 IL better
plan. They would rob me on the noun
tain. The two drivers were friends OF
theirs, and were to be paid 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 dinner. The
place where they were to murder me
was about mile distant, where the
road wound 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 doubly weak now with my illness
and 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 l do p
Both the drivers were in league with
them. If [ 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 jolt
ed over the stones, the yellow pieces jim
gled sharply, and | could see the eyes Of
the villains sparkle like stars.
cat length the high craggy peak was
in sight, and | could see where the road
wound abruptly around it. Thus far 1
had been tortureing my brains to invent
some way of escape, but without effect
I was thoroughly hedged in as tho
bound by iron chains. And in a few
for my pistol, and had it ready.
presently the diligence stopped at
the foot of an abrupt rise, and the fell
low who drove the oxen came and told
the bandits they must get out and walk
up. They stepped out at once and in a
moment heard slight scuffie, l look
ed out just in time to see both the dri
vers dashed 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 waited the
result. My heart was in my mouth, but
the entense excitement rendered me
strong for the while.
SIN few seconds one of the villains
came, poked the muzzle of a huge pis-
tol into my face.
"Go1M gold" he said. "Give me
gold or die!.
cit was but the work of second to
knock the weapon down with my left
hand, while with my right broug Int up
my own pistol and fired. The ball en-
tered between his eyes, and he reeled
back and fell. Then l leaped after him;
for I 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 upou my shoulder, and his pistol
aimed at my head With an energy
which the presence of death can alone
beget, knocked the weapon down and
grappled with him. He hurled me to
the ground as though I had been child;
but before he could follow up his advan-
tage, the position cryed out:
'Hold, Marco! A Vettura is com
ing!'
"The robber turned, and in mo-
ment more a heavy vettura, with four
horses attached came round the corner
full upon us. / started to my feet, and
saw my brother looking from the win
dow.
''Help! Robbers!" I shouted with
all my might.
''The bandit had taken aim at the vet
turino Of the new team but he was too
late. My brother had comprehended
the whole truth in moment, and with
a sure aim and with quick one too
he shot the villain through the
heart.
"We secured my two drivers, and
then matters were quickly explained
l told my brother all that had happened
and he then told me 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 yet gone to
Venice, but were waiting until ! should
be able to join them. You can imag.
inc how deep our gratitude was, and
how fervently we blessed God for this
fortunate interposition. Myjoy seemed
to lift me from the pain l had suffered
and / felt better than l had before fell
for weeks.
sAnd what should we do next?-
Should we let the two rascally drivers
go, and then turn about for Bologna,
''No," said my brother. ''Our sis
tiers wont expect us for three days; sc
we'n carry these Williams back and give
them up, and tomorrow We'll go oveI
in my vettura."
eve tumbled the two dead bodies