The Princeton union., 1891-06-04
I had heard of solitary travellers as
saulted and murdered passed through

road was frozen into iron. and the
stars that shone in the deep blue sky
We're duplicated in the sleeping lake:
while the spectral-looking trees that
loomed IN the darkness helped to
make up picture that had a Dan
tesque Welrdness about it. Nesting
in my rugs, and soothed by the ryth-
mical beat OF the horses feet on the
iron road, fell asleep. but was pres
entity awakened by voices in what
seemed to me deep and earnest con-
versation. The diligence had stopped.
Icould see nothing, for the glass of
the windows was whitened and rem
dered opaque with the frost.
l tried to let down one of the win
dows, but diligence travellers will know
that essayed task that might well
have taken the patience of Job and
the strength of a Samson; while to
open q diligence door from the inside
is a feat that no human being has ever
yet accomplished. I therefore had no
alternative but to await the unfolding
OF events. That a plan for robbing
me was being discussed between the
vlllalnous driver, the conductor, and
some bloodthirsty bandits, had not
the slightest doubt. and that my death
was a settled question should I offer
any resistance was, to my mind,
equally sure.
However, determined to fight hard
for my life, and die game if die must.
In a few minutes the door was sud-
denly opened, and man sprang in;
or rather, as it seemed to me, he was
unceremoniously bundled in, and as
he sank down at the opposite end of
the seat he muttered something that
might have been a curse or a greeting.
Then heard the driver and conductor
scramble up to their seats, and the
heavy vehicle rumbled on again,
ESQ" thought I, ''this is nice lit
tie plot for my robbery and murder;
but there will be fight for it," with
which heroic resolution grasped my
revolver with a stern purpose.
My travelling companion was O. BAN
dit, a cut-throat of the deepest dye.
There could not possibly be any mis-
take about that, for he might have
stood as the model OF every Italian
bandit who has ever been painted in
modern times. He wore a big SOM
brero, and his muscular frame was en-
| veloped in a great cloak, one end of
which was caught up and thrown over
his left sholder. His face was perfect
ly villainous in it's expression-of
that also there could be no mistake.
He had hawk-like eyes and glared at
me, while the aroma of garlic that he
emitted with his breath was sickening.
| don't know whether all bandits reek
! OF garlic, but this one unquestionably
did.
Such was the picture my excited
imagination drew Of my silent compan-
ion. The back light that was reflected
into the coupe from the diligence
lamps enabled me to see him with
tolerable distinctness; and feeling sure
that robbery, if not murder, was his
object, [ quietly drew out my revolver
from it's case, and placing my finger on
the trigger and the muzzle on my knee,
| waited in anxious suspense for what
might follow.
! He closed his glaring eyes and pre-
tended to sleep, but was not to be
deceived by any such hollow pretence.
l never took my gaze from him. l had
let my rugs slip down in order that my
movements might be unimpeded when
the supreme moment came. The con-
sequence was I was half-frozen. 1 had
no feeling in my legs and feet. MY
whole body was cra1nped, while my
mental state may be far easier imagin-
ed than described. -.
In a little while my bandit moved.
He scrutinized me keenly, of that I
was convinced. Then he funbled un-
der his cloak, and in a few moments
I heard click, and saw the gleam of
steel. My heart leapt into my mouth,
and my frozen blood Instantly thawed.
He was about to spring at me and
stab me to death. No sane man
could have come to any other conclu-
sions. My first impulse was to call
out to the driver, but [ checked my
self, for was not he in collusion with
this villain? | was trapped, but I
resolved to kill my man before he
should kill me. had him in my
power, and would shoot him dead.
still sat, and still had the revolver
on my knee. The muzzle pointed in
direct line with the bandits body. A
cold prespiration broke out on my
face, and a creepy sensation ran down
/ lily spine. ss I1G Sc0lllcll 10 HE W SIdSp
his knife more fercely, and to be pre-
pairing for the spring.
Poor fool! he little dreamed that I
held his life at my disposal. I pressed
the trigger Of the revolver, but not hard
enough. Why I did not know, and
have never since been able to deter
mine Another hairs weight more in
the pressure, the hammer must have
fallen, and the bullet could not posi-
bly, have missed going through his
body, for we We're SO close together, and
the compartment was so narrow.
II will let him make the first move"
I thought ''The moment he tries to
strikeI will fire" This determination
was the result Of q strong reluctance
to take life except at the very last re-
source. Although I felt sure this ban
dit was ferocious assassin, thirsting
/ for my life in order that he might pos
sess himself OF my valuables, he had
/ not yet given any distinct evidence Of
| what his intentions were, and as I
could fire as rapidly as he could strike
tine, he should begin the combat.
l Moments passed. They seemed
4 rnin,1tas nav hnnrs r am not a.