, 1892-02-27
THE RED RAVEN.

waited by fantastic fear, reigned through.
out the country. When would the as
sassin be discovered
The gendarmes, after securing the
country for a week, grew weary of the
useless labor-no trace, no clew.
The grave where MAESTRO LAMA lay
buried was covered with a fall of snow,
and the gravedigger, after planting over
it n rough cross, had chanted this lugu-
brious antiphon, Frozen is thy bed,
O o MAESTRO: but the rutiian who cut
thy throat in order TO possess himself of
thy dollars will pass the winter joyously
before a hearth crowned with bottlesl
AS the gravedigger turned his back
ON the cross and went his way out of the
Enclosure, a hoarse, cultural sound is
sued from the silent gloom Of the twi-
Hight.
The devil is %laughingr' exclaimed
the servant of the dead, closing the
gate, THE gendarmes will lose their
time"
From the peaks of Albenza to the val
leys of Soma tho earth was white-the
streets were deserted. A few dimly
lighted windows disclosed something of
life in the human beings huddled to-
gether in frosty huts. The whiteness OF
the snow seemed lark as twilight poured
over its luminous brightness.
a man wrapped from nose to knees in
II thick cloak climbed the steep road that
led from the valley of Soma to Caperno.
He wa going to Opreno. The distance
that still lay before him was long-night
threatened to overtake him on his way.
And this man-young, healthy. vigorous
-was afraid of the night.
Coming from Pontida on his way home
TO his own mountainous country, he had
taken he shortest route. which, besides
being the shortest. also enabled him to
avoid inhabited places. He climed the
steep hill with hurried steps, like a be-
lated traveller who il in haste to reach
his destination.
On, on he went. The hill overcome,
he stopped an instant, as if Mt sight Of
an obstacle or at the sound of n threat.
WHAT had he seen? What heard?
He had seen the white wall of the
cemetery-had heard the hoarse croak
of the raven.
oh, it is yet to be seen that Nardo del
Brizzi. the intrepid hunter of the valley
is afraid of the dead.
And the man in the cloak, shaking off
his terror, took mp his march with n
quick step, that Ire might leave as quick
ly rs possible II painful situation.
Arrived before the cemetery, he
turned his face from it and drew back,
skirting the wall at the left. As soon as
he seemed sufficiently removed from the
abode of the dead he stopped. wiped
away the perspiration which rolled
down his face, and casting n backward
glance over the road already traversed,
saw on thew white carpet of snow-hop-
ping after him, running directly toward
him-a small body, whose form, out
lined on the deep snow, appeared that of
ii raven with red plumage. Another
raven!" cried Brizzi, with chattering
teeth. "Mastro's was black. Who ever
saw one of these cursed birds with feath-
ers the color of bloodg'
The red raven had stopped in the mid
die of the road and seemed to be waiting
for The man to take up his march again,
in order that he might resume his play
of running after him.
IL Brizzi threw aside his cloak, picked
mp a handful of snow from the ground,
made it in n ball and taking aim threw
1t with an oath straight at the bird.
The bird jumped aside to avoid the
proiectile, croaked three times in u mock
ing tone, then, hopping along on its two
straight nodulous claws, advanced
toward the hunter with the petulant
manner of one who has received a chal-
lenge-
why have not my good gun with
me?" thought the m%ountaineer, grinding
his teeth. And, burrowing his head
deep in the folds of his cloak, he went
hastily on his way up the hill like a
frightened child.
The raven followed him, beating his
wings, and that noise of tiuttering feath-
ers, penetrating the big hood that en-
veloped the head of the fleeing man.
pierced his ears and froze his blood.
In the dense obscurity of the night.
damp with perspiration, Nardo Brizzi at
last arrived at Opreno.
With convulsive haste he opened the
door of an old hut. entered, closed it.
then, having lighted n lantern, threw its
rays through the little yard to make
sure that the other had not entered.
The other! A tiny bird hat in the ex-
cited mind of the mighty hunter had
taken on the proportions Of n gigantic
soldier!
No; the raven had not entered. The
hunter breathed again and smiled, shak-
ing his head. How aid that filthy grave
yard bird ever arouse such fear in Nardo
Brizzi?
lie opened Il bottle, emptied it in a
breath and went into the next room 10
lie down.
But scarcely had he laid himself on
the bed, scarcely had he extinguished
the candle which he had placed on II
chair beside him
"Cheki cLekr'
THE devilr'
"Chek! chekl chekr'
And the pecking of a sharp beak on
the window post made the miserable fel-
Nav W.ehiunton Pam paonl.