Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-24

IlVal, named after the meadow itsef
FIESTA di Pratone." At other times
the plateau is unoccupied, except by
the aforementioned herdsmen, who
drive their fiocks up there to take adj
vantage OF the fine pasturage it aft
fords. But even these hardy men. ac-
customed to all sorts of weather. for
sake the Pratone in the dead OF winter,
the cold at such an elevation being then
too severe for them-snow lying on the
adjacent SUBMITS for five or six months
in the year. At all seasons, however.
cattle remain upon and roam over it in
semi-savage state.
With their prisoner along with them,
the bandit arrive on the edge of the
Pratone, just as the sun is about to set:
and, hating under chImp of umbra-
geous oaks intermingled with lick, COM
menee kindling their camp fire. A
huge pile they build, for it is to be an
all-night camp, not a temporary biv-
ouac, and in the chill air at that high
elevation they will need something
more than an ingle to keep them warm.
Besides they have their suppers to
cook, though their captive-spectator Of
all that passes-as yet sees nothing to
be cooked. Ere long, however, he has
evidence that they do not design to go
ing to rest upon empty stomachs. Soon
as making stop. three OF their number
separate from the rest, and, taking
their guns along, strike out over the
Pratone. What their errand is he can
only guess. as the directions given them
by the chief were in dumb show, they
themselves appearing to have fore
knowledge of it. Not long till it is de-
clared by the crack of carbine, and
yet more certainly as he sees the trio
return, dragging dead bullock behind
them evidently designed as the piece
de resistance of their supper. For this
some stock proprietor, next time he
counts his herd, will find head short;
since the cattle on the mountain, to all
appearance wild, are withal owned, and
marked with the ferro infoeato Of the
owner.
Without rejecting upon this, Henry
Harding sees them strip off the ami
mails skin, and cut it into quarters
both operations performed with n dex-
terity that would do credit to the most
skilled butcher of the Paris abbatoir.
The captive is less surprised at their
adroitness in manipulating the knife
than by something he sees done he
sides-this. the erection OF four large
spits, improvised from saplings already
cut and trimmed on each OF which
quarter of the bullock is impaled and
suspended over the fire. What want
they with so much meat? There are
in all but eleven of them, the chief In
eluded; himself making twelve, should
they prove hospitable enough to let
him share their repast. But four quar-
tiers of beef for twelve men! The
thing seems out of all proportion. True,
the bullock is but a two-year-olG.
though well grown stirk, and GER
tainly its carcass should be sufficient
for fifty. IL not more. What then. can
the robbers mean by roasting the whole
OF it, as they are now doing?
Not taken into their confidence. the
captive does not put this inquiry, nor
any other that relates 70 their pro-
ceedings; since inquisitlveness on his
part would in all probability meet With
blunt rebuff. Indeed he is sure Of t.
for ever since leaving the Fonte Blan-
dusiano there has been a marked
change in the chiefs manner, his levity
replaced by seriousness almost sullen
as the tiger, at times Playful as a kit
ten. returns to its normal habit OF
cruelty when the caprice Of innocence
is off. Since parting from the spring,
he has not exchanged speech with bis
captive, nor even come near leaving
him all along the route to the compan-
ionship. or rather ii the charge OF, he
pretended v:ferari Even these jocu-
lar gentlemen no longer chaff with him.
They too have turned serious, as
though the substituting offensive wea-
pons for their l=usical instruments
called for a corresponding change OF
temper. Beyond assuring MIN OF the
pleasure II has given them to renew bis
acquaintance, not another word have
they spoken to him, brt confined them
selves to gestures. while conducting
him up the difficult mountain pssh.
ITO be Coatinued}
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