The Florence tribune., 1897-07-24

lent and foreseen death overtalles one I could smell the resinous fsgots. l could see every twig upon the ground. l could hear every rustic of th
 5ir Hsif'of.' ssv6 i7FF 'sifs7 tT-ifs.s 5i7 danger And so it was that. long be- fore anyone else, before even tine time when the chef had addressed me had heard q low, monotonous sound, far away, indeed, and yet coming nearer at every instant. At first it was but nnurnur, rumble, but by the time he had finished speaking, while the assas- sins were untying my ankles in order to lead me to the scene of my murder, heard. as plainly as ever I heard any thing in my life, the elinhing of horse shoes, and the jingling of bridle chains, with the clank of sabers against stirrup irons. Is it likely that I, who had lived with the light cavalry since the first hair shaded my lip, would mistake the sound of troopers on the march? Help, comrades, help!H 1 shrieked. and though they struck me across the mouth and tried to drag me up to the tree, 1 kept on yelling: Help me, my brave boysl Help me, my children! They arc mur- dering your colonella Tor the moment my wounds and my troubles had brought on delirium, and looked for nothing less than my five hundred hussars, kettle-drums and all, to appear at the opening of the glade.
 But that which really appeared was very different to anything which I had conceived Into the clear space there came galloping fine young man upon q most beautiful roan horse. He was fresh faced and pleasant looking, with the most debonnaire bearing in the world and the most gallant way of carrying himself, way which re- | minded me somewhat of my own. He wore singular coat which had once been red all over, but which was now stained to the color of withered oak 1 leaf wherever the weather could reach i it. His shoulder straps, however, were df golden lace, and ho had bright ] metal helmet npon his head with a eoquettish white plume upon one slde l of it's crest. He trotted his horse up the glade, while behind him there rode 1orI jewellers in the same dress-an clean shaven. with round comedy faces, look 1 inc to me more like monks than dragoons. At a short gruf order they halted with a rattle of arms, while their leader cantered forward, the fire beat inc mon his eager face and the beauti ful head of his charger. l knew o1 course by the strange coats that they were Enrlish. It was the first sight | that I had ever had of them, but from their stout bearing and their masterfu- way I could see at glance that what had always been told was true, and that they were excellent people to fght against.
 "We1, well, well!' cried the young ,fficer, in sufficiently bad French ''What devils game are you up to here Who was that who was yelling fol help, and what are you trying to do t' him2"
 It was at that moment that learned to bless those months which Obriant the descendant of the Irish kings, ha' spent in teaching me the tongue of th' English. My ankles had just beel freed, so that I had only to slip m. hands out of the cords, and with single rush I had flown across, picke' up my saber where it lay by the fire and hurled myself onto the saddle o
 poor vidals horse. Yes, for all m
 wounded ankle, never put foot t