Year: 1874


moaning sound began, which heightened
out into an awful, protraoted groan, waxing
louder and louder, as if under an increasing
agony, and then dying away slowly and
gradually into silence, yet painfully and
distinctly audible even to the last


AS soon as / could rouse myself from
the freezing horror which seemed to pene-
trate even to my joints and marrow, l
crept away from the bed, and in the farth-
est corner of the room lighted with shal1-
ing hand my candle, looking anxiously
about me as did so, o,expecting some dread
ful revelation as the light flashed up. Yet,
if you will believe me, did not feel alarm
ed or frightened, but rather oppressed, and
penetrated with an unnatural and over
powering sentiment of awe. seemed to be
in the presence of some great and horrible
mystery, some bottomless depth of woe, or
misery, or crime. l shrank from it witlna a
sensation of intolerabe loathing and sus-
pense. 1t was feeling akin to this which
prevented me from calling to my landlord.
could not bring myself to speak to him of
what had passed, not knowing how nearly
he might be himself involved in the mys-
terry. was Only ahxious to escape as
quietly as possible from the room and the
house. The candle was now beginning to
flicker in its socket, but the stars were
waning outside, and there was space and
room to breathe, out there, which seemed
to be wanting in my room so I hastily
opened my window, tied the bedclothes to-
gether for rope, and lowered myself
silently and safely to the ground.


"There was light burning in the lower
part of the house, but crept noiselessly
along, feeling my way carefully among the
trees, and in due time came upon beaten
track, which led me to a road, the same
which had been travelling on the previous
night. l walked on, scarcely knowing
whittier, anxiously only to increase the dis
tance from that accursed house, until the
day began to break when almost the first
object could see distinctly was small
body of men approaching me. 1t was with
no small pleasure that recognized at their
head my friend, the Capo di Polizia.
All he cried, unfortunate Inglese, what
trouble you have given me ! Where have
you been? God be praised that see you
safe and sound But how What is the
matter with you You look like one pos
sessed."


"I told him how had lost my way, and
where had lodged.


"And what happened to you there ?" he
cried, with look of anxiety.


"I was disturbed in the night. l could
not sleep. 1 made my escape, and here
am. cannot tell you more"


"But you must tell me more, dear sir !;
forgive me you must tell me everything.
I must know all that passed in that house.
We have had it under our surveillance for
q long time, and when heard in what di-
rection you had gone yesterday, and had
not returned, feared you had got in some
mischief there, and we were even now upon
our way to look for you"


"I could not enter into particulars, but
told him heard strange sounds, and at
his request went back with him to the
spot He told me by the way that the
house was known to be the resort of ban
ditti that the landlord harbored them,
received their ill.gotten goods, and helped
them to dispose Of their booty.


"Arrived at the spot, he placed his men
about the premises and instituted a strict
search, the landlord and the man who was
found in the house being compelled to
accompany him. The room in which. had
slept was carefully examined the floor was
Of plaster or cement, so that no sound
could have passed through it; the walls
were sound and solid, and there was moth
ing to be seen that could in any way ac-
count for the strange disturbance had ex-
perienced. The room on the ground-foor
underneath my bedroom was next inspect
ed it contained quantity of straw, hay,
firewood and lumber. II was paved with
brick, and on turning over the straw which
was heaped together in corner, it was
observed that the bricks were uneven, as If
they had been recently disturbed.


"Dig here" said the officer; we
shall find something hidden here, inn
agine."


"The landlord was evidently much dis
turbed Stop he cried. Il will tell you
what lies there come away out of doors,
and you shall know all about it."


"Dig, l say. We viii find out for our
selves"


g Let the dead rest, !" cried the landlord
with n trenhlino voice. nFor the love