Year: 1873

there. Directly Iheard them would
Jump from the window, which was
about ten feet from the ground. 81
ought" l argued with myself, "to be
able to knock those two fellows down
there and be off into the fields, before
the men at my door can understand
what is up and be down to the assis-
tance OF those outside.n The pros
poets were not so bad after all. My
spirits rose, and | looked round the
room to see if there were anything
about that might make a better wea-
pom than my revolver, which although
a formidable striking weapon, was
very short, serious disadvantage in
a fight with men armed with knives,
/ could see nothing, but my eyes tell
on door which had tried and found
locked when | first entered the room.


1t was apparently only closet, but
it wasjust possible that it might lead,
into some other room, from which l
could make my escape by the window
So at once set to work with my
knife, and soon had the satisfaction Of
feeling the lock shoot back with q
click, | dubbed my pistol before !
opened the door, as for anything l
could tell some Of my foes might be
upon the other side; and with sud
den spring backwards, SO as to place
myself in position Of defence, / threw
back the-door.


For the second time that night a
cry rose to my lips, Before me was a
closet and in it, standing stiff and up
right, was the dead body of young
Garibaldian officer The shock tried
my nerves more than the rush of the
assassins would have done, and for a
minute or two I stood horror-struck


Then | shook off the feeling of awe,
and examined the predecessor IN this
murder-room. He had been stabbed
in the back, and the placidity OF his
face told of an instantaneous death


In the corner of the closet behind him
was something that made my heart
give a throb of delight. 1t was his
sword, which had, as useless to the
murderers, been thrown in there to be
buried with the body. The murder
could not have taken place the night
before, for it was only then that the
Garibaldians had marched out to Bag
adino 1t was probable that he had
gone on from his regiment ether to
try and forage up some provisions, or
to make inquiries whether the Austrl-
ans had been heard of in that direc-


ton, and had allowed himself to be


seGuced by the temptation OF the un-


wonted luxury of the bed.


AS looked at him fresh idea oc-


Cured to me, one by which it was


quite possible l might avoid fighting


altogether. / did not hesitate mo.


ment as to carrying it into action. ]


unbuttoned his tunic and pulled it of


took off my own coat and put it on


him; lifted the body and laid it on the


bed, partly turned over on to the face
and with the coverlid thrown carelessly


over the legs.


The deception would not have stooo


an ins,ant's examination by daylight


but | trusted to a dim light and the


haste of the murderers. l put on hi'


tunic and cap, and took out my watcl


and laid it with all my loose silver


and few gold coins, on the table


and put my pocket-book beside them


having first taken out all the note


and valuable papers. Then l tool


away the chest from the door and pu


it back into its place as quietly as be


fore. and with a final look round tt


see that all was natural, blew ou


the candle and stepped into the cup


board.


1t seemed an age before heard
creaking on the stairs-I belieye'
that it was about an hour and a hall
l was more fidgety and nervous 70
the crisis than actually afraid Of it,
, for even if the worst came to tn
worst, and the trick was discovered,
t felt that the chances We're now in m
favor. | was certain that if were I
, SALLY out when an exclamation tol
that they attempted to move the bod.
t their surprise and horror at the al
} pearance of what they would take ie
, the spectre OF their victim OF the pr'
vious night would SO paralyze thel
= at least before they could recovt
9 from their first fright, and that IL
, others would probably make hea'


long bolt down the stairs. Indeed,
d almost questioned whether in any ca'
J. this would not be the course to adop
a and was only deferred from it by u
/ idea that there might be more OF I'll
J. rufiians down stairs.
l. Presently / heard a slight mol
a without, and then little creak OF Il
it door; and from crack in the WOO
o work of the closet 1 could see a fai
is light. There was a pause, then a hi
y ried rush, and the sound Of two hea'
ii blows as the ruilians struck thI
as knives into the figure on the bed.
u "Cospetta,n one Of them said, +"
e, slept soundly. I balf thought he ST
W pected us, and he was fool enough
ID have given us trouble" "lIere is
r. watch, and money, and purse" anot
" er voice said, "and here are his pist'
20 by his bedside; the fool never thong
ID Of seeing if they were all right Coz
tn along, let's see what is in his pursei
be we can stow that lumber away pr
ne emily with the other one. Bring Il
Id bag down, there may be something


it, There was a trampling OF te
/ and then the door closed, and
r. room was in darkness again.


ld / waited a moment till l hear
lie call outside, and in moment aft
n. wards, the closing OF the streetdo
is There was no occasion for further
a Law. | hurried out of my clos
h. opened the window nimbly, and lei
Id out as quickly as / could. In t


minutes / was at the stable, and in
IN much more was galloping at full spt
II L ..-...-. .