Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-27

Il was, doubtless, an ancient crater; and hery
lava had Kissed and boiled where that peace
jul lake now glittering in the sun. We sat
Town on large stones close to the waters edge,
md taking out our solid materials, with the
bottles which remained, we set about enjoy
ING ourselves after the true English fashion,
the captain presiding, as his experience en-
titled him to do. There were roast fowls, and
small birds, delicious cold salmon, preserved
fruits, jellies, and pastry, with wines of every
hue and flavor. Everybody contributed a
good keen appetite; and Carlotta, in partic-
ular, made great way with the fowls, for which
she entertained great Partially. Madame
B., also, and the other ladies performed
their parts well nor did any of us shrink
from the wine, which circulated in profusion,
till we were all in the best humor in the world.
should obrerve that Giovanni was not ex-
cluded from our circle !. and as of course, he
could not be separated from his companion,
he also petitioned for the admission of the
ass, which, as Giovanni expressed it, ate
bread and drank wine like a Christian.
We all of us noticed very extraordinary
ledge of rock, projecting from between two
pinnacles, above three hundred feet, at least,
over our heads.
"That ledge" said Giovanni, 'was not
long ago the scene of sad tragedy, which
plunged the whole of his neighborhood into
grief. These was a brigand in the mountains
who often disguised himself, and descended to
our village to purchase provisions. On one
of these occasions he saw a beautiful girl, the
daughter of vine-grower, who lives close to
our house and, being lawless person, he
determined TO steal her away.
3" 1t was not however, so easy to put his
design into execution; for the young girl sell
dom went out after dark and in the day time
it would have been next to impossible to effect
his purpose, there were so many persons
stirring. But there is an old proverb, which
says, Where there is will there is way.
The brigand descended at night to the village,
bringing along with him small ladder,
which he had himself constructed. This he
placed against one of the windows of our
neighbours house, and, climbing up hastily,
forced open the easement, and entered bed
room, which was that ofthe fatherand mother.
Here he had the audacity to kindle lamp,
by means of a flint and steel which he had
brought with him. He then drew large pis-
tol from his pocket and, approaching the bed,
determined to shoot them both should they
awake. Sound sleep, however, preserved
their lives. He then proceeded into the next
room, where he found the young womans
brother, stout young man of about five-and-
twenty. He also was asleep, for it was past
midnight. In the room adjoining, the brig
and found the girl, over whose mouth he pass
ed tight bandage, tying it firmly behind the
head. By doing this he awakened her, but
she could not speak and, holding the pistol
to her head, he swore if she struggled he
would shoot her OH the spot. lie then took
her in his arms, and carried her, struggling,
through her father and mothers bedroom
and, getting out through the window, decend-
ed the ladder, where he placed her on her feet,
and, seizing her by the arm, forced her along.
A neighbor, who happened at this moment to
be looking out through her window, saw the
young girl struggling hard with the brigand;
and, in the contest, the bandage fell off her
mouth. She then shouted with all her might,
walked her father, mother, and brother to-
gether with several neighbors, who all now
rushed out to give chase. The hrigand now
once more snatched her in his arms, and sue
ceeded in efTecting his escape into the woods
How he forced her along is not known but
her cries directed the pursuit for some time.
AT length, however, she became silent, and it
was feared that he had killed her. The night
passed on and the dawn began to break, when
the brigand and his shivering captive were
was supposed, towards his cave. The pursuit
now recommended with fresh alacrity. Father,
brother, and neighbors, climbed the rocks
spreading themselves so as to encompass the
brigand on all sides, and to force him towards
yonder precipice, where, it was thought, he
must of necessity surrender. Powerful as he
was, he gradually became exhausted, by be-
ing forced from time to time to carry his cap
tive in his arms. His exertions, therefore.
and the villagers approached near
er and nearer. In order to intmidate them.
he drew one Of his pistols, and fired. No
one was hurt but, with the second, he shot
the brother, who fell, staggering, into his
fathers arms. The neighbors, now seeing
that blood had been shed, likewise grew fero-
cious, and rushing towards the brigand, de-
termined to take his lite. He retreated to-
wards yonder ledge, and threatened them that,
if they did not stand still, he would plunge
over it. with the girl in his arms. They treat
ed this as vain menace intended to arrest
their progress but the girl who had by this
time learned the character of her captor, en-
treated them TO desist. She shuddered. and
shrunk back from the dreadful depth before
her. Underneath, there were several hundred
feet Of rock, and deep lake. The head. as
you must feel, gentlemen, turns giddy even
in looking up, you may easily conceive,
therefore, what it must be to look down from
that tremendous height. But the blood of
the villagers was heated. They dashed for
ward, the brigand still waving them back will,
his hand, and uttering the most fearful threats
and imprecations. Every instant, he drew
nearer and nearer the edge of the abyss
His face grew pale with rage. He seized the
girl by the hair Of her head he shook his
cinched fist at his pursuers he foained ut
the mouth like mad dog and then, muster
ing up all his force and all his fury, plunged