The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-08-11

I recommend Mutterelli highly. He
knows all about Sardinia from CaSlia-
ri to Sassari, and is brave and In.
telligent.'' u.
The fact that he knew all about Sar.
dina made Mutterello valuable man
in my eyes at once.
very WELL" said. ri thank you,
Signor Branderi, for your kindness.
And Mutterelli will have no cause to
regret his faithful attention to my in
terests."
Mutterelli bowed again.
when will the signor start?" he
asked.
'As soon as possibility the first
steamer" l replied.
(Which is tomorrow. will ar
range everything" said Mutterelli. II
will go now and engage our passage"
Thus 1t was that as l stood on the
deck of the steamer moving into Gag
liari, Mutterelli stood by my side. On
the voyage from Genoa l had asked
innumerable questions about Sardinia,
and if my questions related more to
persons and politics than to mouflon
and other game, Mutterelli did not
show any surprise, but answered all
my inquiries with directness and
promptness which charmed me, and
proved that Signor Branderi's esti-
mate of my guides knowledge of the
island was not too high. But while
asked questions, l said nothing about
the real object of my visit. l pre-
ferred to withhold that knowledge
until we were actually upon the
island which was to be the scene of
action.
What is that building. Mutterelli?"
l asked. pointing to two high steeples
about halfway up the hill.
THAT is the cathedral, signor," he
replied. 1T was built during the four
teenth century,"
And that?" I continued. directing
his attention to broad, white build
ing with many windows, which stood
facing the bay.
THAT is the university, signor," he
replied. ut is fine institution. 1t
has the departments of theology, law,
medicine and philosophy. 1t has thir-
ty professors and about four hundred
students"
And the castle on the hill top
Mutterelli?"
That is the Prefecture, signor. It
was once the castle of the King of
Sardinia, but now it is the legal resi-
de,ce OF the prefetto and the head
quarters of the army of Sardinia and
of the police"
One after another of the imposing
buildings l pointed out to him, and
was answered in this prompt and eff
cient manner. Mutterelli was jewel
among guides. There was no gainsay-
ing that.
At last we reached the dock
Mutterelli assumed entire charge of
our debarkation, and we were soon in
a carriage, rumbling along the quay
toward the best hotel of Cagliari,
where l had requested Mutterelli to
procure comfortable quarters. I had
cautiously, as if by accident, given
my guide to understand that close
observation of my wishes would be
well repaid. and that l was willing
to pay literally. AS customers of that
kind come rarely to Sardinia. it can
be we'll understood that had the best
that Cagliari could produce and Nut
terelli could procure.
The Grand Hotel (Hotel Grande)
stood on prominent corner of Gag
liar, with one narrow, crooked street
running past it from north to south,
and another equally narrow and more
crooked street passing east and west.
AS my willingness to pay was well
known by Mutterelli, I had the best
that the hotel could afford.
Mutterelli had skillfully concealed
all curiosity about my trip. He had
not asked a single question. But
now, having arrived at our hotel, one
thing puzzled him. l had brought no
guns.
You must have good guns to shoot
the mouflon. signor." he said, when he
had asked me if had any. "Most all
hunters bring their rifles with them.
But l can obtain some good ones
here. 1t is Just as WELL"
(To be continued)