The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-27
CHASED BY woLF-DOGs.
How Charles Warren stOddREd uIOke
Esis Arsn the Roman CamPazna.

How Charles warren stOddn-d Droke
His Arsn the Roman CamPszna.
Letter in the san Francisco Chronicle
We debated over black coffee until the
lasl number OF the concert in the piazza
had ended in a flourish OF trumpets, and
then, without further hesitation, we
ordered steeds and swore we would cross
the Canpagna at midnight, through fever
and damp, spite of the brigauds and the
shoep-dogs and the black holes that line
the solitary road toRome. 1t was twelve
midnight when we mounted. The bell
of some convent IN the Mills was calling
the monks from leep to prayer; the
piazza was deserted; lew friends who
had supped with us stood by US to the
last, and we turned from them as they
stood in the warm light of the caJe-the
only light visible atGhat hour and de-
parted under thick shower OF benedic>
tons The long road wound down the
hill between high walls and ter :aced
gardens. From timeTto time we passed
the wayside shrines 50 common in Catho-
lie countries; broad bars of sight fell across
our ath for there vas ever a lamp lit
by some faithful hand and burning
brightly at the feet ofthe Madonna. The
way grew lonely. We set orth with
songs. but orr voioes were lost in the
immense, the eternal silence of the vast
and vacant land.
It came at last-a lew growl, away of
in the bIackness of darkness; n long, low,
wolfsh growl, that ended in a sharp and
vicious yelp, which was followed by
chorus of howls and barks that chilled
the very marrow in our bones "Avsntip
cried Our guide, as he plunged the spurs
into his horses tanks and dashed forward
into the night. We followed as best we
could; followed madly, not knowing
whittier we went, but seeking TO keep
within sound OF the hools that now thunN
dered upon the road lie hail. The wolf
dogs we're upon us-monsters that guard
the focks in the Campagna and are the
terror of all pedestrians, for in their case
escape is impossible, and more than one
mangled corpse has been found by the
wayside in the morning. the partially de-
voured remains of some belated pilgrims
whose only memorial is one of the small
black crosses that are so frequent in some
parts of Italy, and mark the spot where
blood has been accidentally or unlawfully
shed Tne air was filed with the hide
Gus yelps of the infuristed pack, and the
whole Campagna seemed alive with mon
sters clamoring for blood. We plunged
into the darkness, relying upon the in
stinct of our horses to keep the road.
Once off it we must have fallen into one
of the bitches that follow it at intervals,
or have driven full speed against the low
walls that border some of the meadow
lands, and ia either case our destruction
was inevitable. was following the party,
bringing up the rear Of the procession
indian file-when suddenly every thing |
went from under me, and the next mo-
ment l was groveling among loose stones,
with my horse vainly striving to regain |
his feet at my side. The whole earth /
sank at that moment, and out of the
chaos that followed came fearful voices I
askingif was hurt. thought not, but /
before / could render this vedict two I
edged agony went cOrkscrew-fashion
through my arm from my shoulder to the
wrist, and then returned to the elbow,
where it threw out thousand red-hot
tendrils and struck root foreverRnd ever.
Meanwhile a pack OF dogs, awakened
by the clamor, bore down upon our quar-
ter, and we were in danger of being
but with desperate haste we
passed them just as they leaped the ways
side wall and struck into the road,
crashing their teeth with rage at the
very feet of our horses. 1t was narrow
escape; one poor devil was struck by the
flying heels of my horse and knocked
and then We saw dimly the
gray, shadowy forms slacken their pace
the whole tribe retrested, the
10 sc subsidized, and there came the grate-
'ulest season of silence that ever crept
nto my life.