Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-23

right arm. After a battle the eneuys
cavalry would gallop over the field ard
thrrer again and again AT the helpless
wounded"
Ala ne told these horrors without any
show OF special emotion. What curla
his blood and nearly stopped his speed
was. strange 70 say. The long tCe-.-
long and white-of tho Abysstnlans They
are as long as this" murmured Giovanni,
marking OF two joints OF his largs
thumb.
why did they not try 70 ransom yoae'
I asked.
Yes. ransoml Ras Mangascia would
have taken 1900 lire per head f9r hg
prisoners. But who could give that
Not the government And certainly r-,
our relations. At last we were ere
changed for soldiers OF thu Res tha;
Baldissera had made prisoners"
one OF the misfortunes thar befsl
young Italian soldiers was 20 De- struck
with idiocy when they found themselves
under FIRE. Giovanni said 1T happened
70 many" There was one OF them here
a few days ago. He was being taken
by another soldier 20 a famous place O.
pilgrimage, and he was utterly bereft q
sense-not mad. but a Jabberiug iiio,
And another danger that they Cd ran
you must have prayed well 10
Africa 10 have escaped sound in mint
and body" some one SAID. He answered
with simple conviction. "Ah no. it Ws
my mother PRAYING in italy that brorsl.
me home safe"
I know not II ever Giovanni had ar7
martial ardor He has none whateyei
now. AS he talked a charge OF blasting
powder exploded In a seighbOr.ng qlaffl'
and his face fell. HIS eyes looked saals
more hollow-the sound awakened Afr.cla
memories. He said he was "glat' %
had done with soldering. Though be hai
wasted as 10 look Ike an undevel0pei ial
OF 70, he must be 3. at least. for he h-i
served two years IN the army before e
embarked for Africa six months ago
Next in horror, after 'the white graA
long Abyssinian teeth" comes his renea'
brance Of the Wild beasts. "Going up 'li
country" he said, "panthers. Hons. iaoD'
ards, some tigers (and terrible creature
with unknown patois names came c.s.i
TO us. In the dark something would brush
by-but close, close by-a hyena, pro1ai ~
saw panther spring upon c0nll-l.,
and take a piece out OF rhs side or li
face. I saw another panther tear o..
back OF the neck and head OF man O.
another regiment.
when We were coming back. after u'
were released" he said. "the wild lea''
were not so bad. You see they had 1ael
gorged with camel fesh, and, AMI
Italiansi
I'VE took twenty-three days 20 coa'
out OF Ras Mangascla's hands 20 A-'
kayeh-a struggling company nearly ".'4
out "
Giovanni told Il all IN the same SAD moa.
otone. Only twice aid a Pickering sA-'
light up his facc-once when a l.s.--.
struck In with an ignorant question, .-
once when he was cheered BY some A-4
expressions.
Smoker" he said. "Oh. yes. I sroae
But you must not trouble about me uu
wine Too much trouble you take. h-'s
only told you what tell everybody lAy
Ike 10 hear II. And there's hardly
that can tell the tale that ! have io..
you. Few could 1--we through Il all N,--'
ly all the others are dead"
And the saddest part seems 70 me rs
Giovanni. Just back from the war 10y. ~,
vanni who has suffered so much tor -
country-cannot find living In ltaly' ~
must 90 on tomorrow 10 aarsei4-s -
work as day laborer in France.