The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-12

answered. showing his white teeth. Come.
will nurse him so that he shall be well at
thy return
won over by his persuasions the woman
at last consented TO undertake the long and
hazardous journey into the town, where she
stood every chance of being recognized and
perhaps never returning any more. Mean
while Trecchi sat by his sick child drinking
as usual from time to time out Of the print
tive bottle whose contents appeared mex
haustible- Once or twice seized with a fit
Of generosity he passed the cup to me.
- Keep your spirits up, signor for your
fate will soon be decided one way or an
other He grinned, and, not daring TO re-
fuse his offer, / poured its contents stealth
lily on the ground and passed the vessel back
to him.
Presently observed signs Of restlessness
| and unusual excitement about him He
crawled close to the entrance Of the cave
| and laid his ear to the ground. After re-
peatine this performance several times he
| crept back to where / lay, and having pin
toned the one arm that was left free, once
more placed the gag within my mouth. My
heart beat unanimously, for l knew then
there was some chance of a rescue, though
he might take ii into his head to blow my
brains out.
I'm moments of great peril ones senses
become preternaturally acute, and by de-
grees L became aware of dull vibrations in
the rocky ground like the trampling Of
heavy feet. Then a confused murmur like
voices indistinct and far away crept through
the opening of the cave, which was most
artfully concealed from the outside, and 1
could hear Trecchi crunch his teeth with
rage. The enemy was on his track.
There was only one chance left him. It
was still quite possible these emissaries of
justice had merely stumbled on this spot
by chance in their search among the noun
tains, and seeing no marks to rouse their
suspicious they might innocently depart.
This seemed about to be the case: for
the body of men were apparently on the
ledge Of rock outside, when one of them
exclaimed: We must push on, comrades or
the night will be down upon us, and per
Bacco, there is not hiding place enough here
for a weasel or rabbit. Unless Lorenzo
Trecchi has dived down into the mountains
we must catch him sooner or later, so for
ward ! say, for the sake of duty and the
reward of extra diligence offered by govern
ment.'
n ldusH Srteleu lHlS SpeeCH, mingled
with the rattle of muskets as the men once
more shouldered their pieces, but within the
cavern rose the sudden fretful wall of a
sick chic. Never shall 1 forget that plain
tive cry, nor the swift ferocity with which
il was silenced. while the brgand's eyes
glowed like fires of hell in the darkness.
What was that?' cried a soldier.
80 Il heard nothing answered his COM
panion, but see, there goes an eagle carry
ing lamb kid in it's talons, high up
over our heads. No doubt its victim
squeaked. All. 1t is the king of birdsl L
should like to get a shot
THE conversation died away, and with It
died my hopes of rescue, and the brigand's
fears of being captured. How the hours
passed till Teresina's return / hardly know
only the child did not cry once all that
time, and Trecchi went on drinking
AT last the concealment OF the entrance
was pushed aside, and 1 saw il was night
I'm the outer world as the woman crept in
She set about lighting the dark lantern
which threw its CLEAN on the brutal yet
handsome countenance of the man she
loved, now sunk in an intoxicated slumber
and on the pallid face Of her little child. In
a moment she had caught it to her BOSOM
A thrill of horror went through me- for the
child was dead!'