, 1861-04-04
An OLD Soldiers Story.


length, and varies from quarter Of q mile to q
miie in breadth. II is situated on the very sum
NIT Of the Apprentices, some four thousand feet
above the level Of the sea, and is perfect table
Of land, fiat and smooth as pond, with the tops
Of the different hills just rising like parapet q
few feet above It on either hand.
Il was in the month Of November, 1884,, that
was sent as a bearer Of dispatches from the col
onel Of my regiment, then stationed at Sulmona.
to the general commanding at Castle di Sangro.
The journey was dismal one to me; for, be-
sides being cold, cheerless disagreeable season
of the year, when q snow tempest might be
looked for at any moment, my way led up
through the rob6er-haunted Vail Oscura, Ozark
Vallley) and across the bleak and desolate Plano
di Cinque Miglie; and thought il ! should cs-
cape Giacomo Ranieri's bandits, tourmente on
the plain, and the hungry packs Of wolves that
at this season almost run mad with hunger, l
might consider myself lucky enough to take ven
ture in almost anything.
Well, the sun, long obscured by ill-omcned
clouds, wanted three hours Of setting, when ]
spurred my horse the last ascent, and stood
upon the Five Mile Plain, at the other end Of
which was q village, called Rocca Rosa, where,
in case Of necessity, ! could get lodging for the
night. I stopped my horse to give him little
breath, preparatory 10 making quick ride Of It
altogether pleased to see q horseman spur up
behind me. He was rather good-'Ooking man,
in a citizens dress, and seemed to be merely q
traveller; but still. as my dispatches were i'm
pOrtant, and the times troublesome, and stran.
gers TO be looked on with suspicion, ] would
rather have been allowed 10 make the ride alone,
drpary as Il was Besides, where had the stran-
ger come iromG His horse seemed perfectly
fresh, as if he had not just assembled one OF the
most difficult activities in the world, while mine
stood painting In temperature that made INC
shiver.
Now, II this stranger came up from the Vail
OscJira, his horse was marvel; and u not, he
was no traveler-fOr there was no other route
for an honest man to take; 50 quietly 10 ,scned
nv pistols in their holsters and Thought to INV.
self In case they were not needed, should like
to become the owner Of that wonderful beast
"COmrade," said the stranger, in frank, of.
hand manner, tipping his hat and smiling, "l
was once soldier, hut am now . traveller. "
agreeable, ! should like your company to Castle
Iii Sangro"
"IIow do you know that am going there ?"
returned Z, in a cold, repcllant tone.
al DON'T only say ! am, and would like
your company. Ans one, though, IL y prefer
to rid, alone
~ fear my beast would be sorry company for
There IL wide difference between the two ami.
mails. Mine is almost blown, and yours looks as
if just from the stall"
"llAi hal" laughed the stranger, pleasantly,
" sce you do not give me credit for squirting
out Of yonder thicket, and dropping below the
brow Of the hill, befnrc you observed me-"
"That looks suspicious"
"So II does: but jesting aside, was ahead
Of you, saw you ascending, wanted company,
felt suspicious like yourself hid myself for you
to pass, and then resolved TO join you without
exciting your suspicion, in which did not sue
coed. Is the explanation satisfactory or shall
ride on againi"
al will trust you" said l.
We rode on, side by side, eonversing pleas
antly, but kept fIrtive glance on every move
mcnt OF my strange companion. ] know not
why, but did not iecl altogether at my ease.
There was something peculiar In his looks, In
the expression Of his face in repose, and could
not avoid kind Of instructive suspicion fan
eied he was deep and cunning man, who could
mask his feelings when he chose, and there might
be sinister design in all he did
Suddenly, as quick almost as lightning, we
were struck by q wind that nearly took US from
our horses, and which made the beasts reel and
stagger like drunken men
"The Virgin save us" suddenly exclaimed
the stranger, "we are caught IN toWrmcRte"
In few minutes amid the bowling and Shriek-
ing Of . most terrific wind, the atmosphere be-
came hloda grew dark with large fakes Of
snow, which whirled and surged around us like
the waters OF o melstr0m. The bowling and
shrieking winds seemed rather u increast than
TO diminish, and the most violent exertions Of an
hour scarcely took US to the centre Of this aw
fnl plain. Tall posts had been erected all the
way at short intervals, to guide the traveller in
isauN 49, k,,S H.,