A TERRIBLE JOURNEY.

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 707, 16 July 1892, Page 17

A TERRIBLE JOURNEY.

I had taken' passage in the cars from Florence to , Venice, and anticipated a pleasant day of travel. It was in the latter part of March, and few strangers were to be met upon the routes of- northern Italy; therefore, I settled myself down very comfortably in the railroad coach, which contained no one else. The first hour passed pleasantly as we crossed the fertile plains of Tuscany and then commenced to creep up the mountains, to dive in and out of long, dark tunnels, to struggle over up-grades and to rush down again on the opposite side. Some of the wildest scenery to be met with in Europe salutes the eye of the traveller at this point, varied with deep gorges and rushing mountain torrents, now and then descending into sheltered valleys where the hillsides are terraced and beautifully cukivated by patient labour. Quaint old towers, a ruined convent, a crumbling church belfry, a halfdemolished castle of the middle ages, the graceful arch of an antique stone bridge and here and there a splendid modern viaduct are combined with ;he ever- varying picture, while the snow-capped Apennines reach far up on either hand, until mingled with and lost in the blue heavens. By and by the route descends into the low-lying, long-reaching plains of Venetia, where the train glides over a country as broad as a western prairie, and where the large estates are divided by alleys of tdll Lombardy poplars. It was at a small way-station just here, where the express train had stopped for coal and water, that the door of my carriage was opened and a man entered, taking the seat opposite to that which I occupied. I remarked that he had no baggage with him, and concluded that he was probably not going far. Yet, as the express train stopped only when its fuel and water were exhausted, I knew that he must remain as my companion for two or three hours at least. I nodded politely to the individual as he entered, the mere salute ofstrangers upon being thrown into close connection, and. was a'little surprised to observe that my courtesy was not returned. However, I thought no more of the matter for some moments, but busied myself watching the attractive scenes through which we were threading our way with lightning-like speed, Happening to glance towards my companion just after we had got fairly under way, 1 caught his eyes regarding me with singular intensity, and with a most sinister expression. It was difficult to understand this, as we had not exchanged a word, consequently I could not have offended him in any way. Still, every time I met his glance the same expression was manifest, except that it seemed to be intensified more and more every minute, until presently I saw him take a large-bladed knife from his pocket and opening it, he said, as he looked me full in the face with savage intent. ' Have you got the management of all these devils and reptiles ?' ' Devils and reptiles ? Where ?' ' All about us ; here on the seats, in your lap, and creeping up to the window there.' 'Oh! I understand you, now,' said I instantly suspecting that the man was deranged, and resolving what to do. ' Do you suppose I am going to sit quietly here and let you put tbose creatures on me ?' 'By no means,' said I. ' They have been bothering me all the forenoon. Here, give me your knife and let me slaughter the vermin.' Thus seeming to fall in with his ideas, and recognising the presence of. the devils and repules all about us, I reached out ray hand and almost snatched hia knife from him, and pretended to cue and slash in a frightful manner. Then I passed some minuter in seeming to throw the carcasses out of th» window, taking good care to send the knife after them. ' Well, that's a comfort,' said the stranger, calming down considerably. « You did that very well. Stop I there is one with awful, glaring eyes in that corner. See! see! see!' and he trembled all over as he pointed to the corner of the coach. ' Don't be afraid,' said I ; ' just let me get at him,' and I went through an imaginary tussle with an animal, and with not a little apparent exertion pretended to throw him also out of the window. 'Where is the knife?' said he suddenly. ' I dropped it out with those devils.' 4 That's bad,' said the man ; ' but they're all gone for the present.' • All,' said I ; ' not one left.'

He drew a long breath, as though quite relieved, and I longed for the time when the train should atop, so that I could free myself from the companionship of a lunatic. I had thrown away his knife, and thought that perhaps I could handle him if he had no weapon ; but I never for a moment took my eyes off his face, and when I could fairly catch his eyes, I gazed back full and determinedly into them with all the power of my will. This affected him singularly, and he. began to avoid my direofc look and fidget in his seat— a restlessness which I knew to be a bad symptom. In the. meantime I tried in a degree to analyse the man's case. He was evidently suffering from delirium tremens, and in the most virulent form. Naturally a large and strong man, his physical power was of course greatly excited and increasedtemporarily by the derangement of the/ brain. I saw that a man in his situation was entirely unamenable to reason, and that the easiest and perhaps the only way to control him at all was to adopt his own ideas, however unreasonable, and by finesse to manage him without appearing to do so. My eyes were off him for a moment, and as quick as thought he sprang at my throat, which he grasped as though, in a vioe. In doing this he rose to his feet. For one instant I could hardly breathe, but I struck both his feet from under him by a blow at once of my hands behind the' knees, and he came down at once upon the floor. Throwing my weight against his body, I fell upon his chest, with his body under me, while I succeeded in freeing my throat from his grasp. ' I can't drive these snakes and devils off unless you keep quiet and don't get in my way,' said I. ' Get up and go into that corner, while I throw them out of the window,' I continued, in a stern voice, ' and be quick about it.' He obeyed instantly, and did not seem to comprehend that he had just attacked me so violently. ' Oh,' said he, in a moment after ; ' the devil looked over your shoulder, and I thought it was you." ' Keep quiet, and don't get in my way again,' I said, as I once more went through the pantomime of throwing imaginary devils and reptiles ouc of the window, not daring to put my own head out, lest he should get me at a disadvantage and dash me out also. Would the train never. stop? Here I had been shut up with this madman for at least an hour, and had I not sufficiently comprehended the case to take his knife away from him at the outset, doubtless he would have murdered me before this time. He was as strong as a lion. I might not be«so lucky in a second struggle as I had been in throwing him off. With all the erratic , impulse of madness he was liable to be upon me any moment. ' There's a boa constrictor,' screamed the man, seizing my arm and pointing to the end of the car. 'He will break every bone in my body. Kill him ! Kill him 1' ' Well, well,' said I, soothingly, ' let go my arm and I will fix him. There! sit/in your corner and give me room,' and I thrust him back into the opposite seat. I once more went through the pantomine of an imaginary struggle 10 eject some monster from the window. 'Ha ! He's getting the better of you,' screamed the maniac. 'He will be after me next,' and he made a spring at the door, but it was securely locked on the outside, otherwise he would have been under the wheels of the train and killed in an instant. 1 All right ; the big snake has gone,' said I, seizing him as he struggled to get his body out of the window He looked cautiously around and then shrank into a corner seat. This continuous mental and physical strain»was quite unnerving me. We must certainly be approaching the end of our journey, for it was already seven o'clock p.m. and we were due at seven-twenty. If I could only manage the lunatic for twenty minutes, relief would be at hand. He saw me look at my watch. 1 Dj you know that you have put a live head into your pocket ?' he whispered to me. ' 1 Yes ; 1 am going to keep it for a curiosity. It is one of those I cut off from a reptile just now.' ' I thought so. You are one of them ! You'll eat that for your supper ? Oh ! you devil you !' And he sprang at me with frantic rage, grasping once more at my throat, but I was on my guard this time. I got both of his hands in mine and we struggled together for more than a minute, when by a sudden effort I stopped upoa the seat, raising myself above him, and by sheer force of weight threw hun once more upon the floor, with my knees on his cheat.

He came down this time so heavily that I feaied I had knocked the life out. of his body, and for a moment he remained motionless. I looked op at the strap upon my travelling shawl which hung in the rack ; if I only had a strong rope I might tie his arms behind him before he aroused and then I could easily manage him. I had nothing suitable, however, for this purpose. I was actually glad when I saw him open his eyes once more, I began to dread lest I had killed him.---1 Have you cleared those devils all out ?' he asked me very quietly, and with a heavy sigh. 'Everyone of them. Get up and sit in the corner— it is the safest place, and I will keep them off you. 5 These last twenty minutes seemed an eternity, . Should we never get to our journey's end ? Bya glance out of the window I could get a glimpse of the distant Adriatic. Surely we must s£op in five minutes more. Patience ! The stranger began to be restless again. What would he attempt next ? I kept my eyes fixed upon his, which seemed unconsciously to quail beneath mine ; yet I could see that he was growing momentarily more uneasy, and that a paroxysm was undoubtedly pending. I dared not suggest a word lest it should hasten his fit, and sj could only keep upon guard. It was already sunset, and the air seemed full of golden mist, as the train at last began to move more slowly, and then it stopped altogether, just as the guard threw open the car door, with the ringing cry,: •Venizia!' to my infinite satisfaction. The moment the door opened my mad companion made a rush to get out, and, leaping upon the platform of the depot, was instantly seized by two stout fellows, while a third handcuffed him. He was expected, as the conductor told me afterward, a telegram having been sent forward to secure him. It seemed that he had : escaped from ah insane asylum, near which he had taken the train, when he purchased his ticket and made all proper arrangements for the journey to Venice with as much correctness and knowledge of detail as though perfectly sane. • I am a person of more than average coolness, and accustomed to meet various exigencies, but I must confess that my nerves were- considerably shaken by this ride with a madman.

There is no book of reference in Auckland more useful or more reliable than (gjeave's Commercial, Municipal and General Directory, and business people will be glad to learn that the fifth annual edition of this excellent compendium of information is in course of preparation. The Directory is replete with information concerning public and local [governing bodies, trading and investment companies and business houses, in addition to «a street directory and an alphabetical lisi of the names and addresses o£ the inhabitants of the provincial district. Above and beyond this, is the directory of public and departmental officials and societies, and then, again, there is a carefully collated section eontaicring everything that anyone might want to know about Customs tariff, postal and otaer fees, and public services generally. ( *,Mr Cleave is <• nothing if -not enterprising, for he is extending his operations into Ha,wkea' Biy.. A separate directory for that provincial district is in course of preparation, and will be issued for the coming year.