A MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 507, 4 January 1870, Page 3

A MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE.

While stopping in Florence, at the " Casa Xlel Bello, my companion and guide was SJames L. Graver, an? American painter of some note, whom I had known in the land of his nativity. It was Sunday evening, and on the following day I was to start for Bologna. Grover and myself sat upon one of the balconies of our chambers, engaged in conversation over our cigars, and after we had talked awhile of the various things we had seen during the day, he asked me if he had ever told me of his adventure upon the Apennines. I told Mm I never heard it. " Then I must tell it to you," said he, throwing away hia cigar, and taking a sip of wine. I lighted a fresh cigar, and he related to me as follows: — " Four years ago this summer my brother and two sisters visited me here in Florence. They spent two weeks with me, and then started for Venice by the way of Bologna, where they had friends whom they were anxious to see. I should • have gone with them had I not been engaged upon a work which I had promised to have done within a given time; but, as it was, we made the thing work very well, for my brother expected two thousand dollars by the hands of a friend who was shortly expected from Home, and it was arranged that I should take the money when it came, and bring it with me to Venice when I got ready to meet them there. My brother left the necessary document for the obtaining of the money, and in due time set out. "On the very next day I was taken ill, and was confined to my bed a week, but I got out and finished my work just as the friend arrived from Rome with the money. He delivered it into my hands upon the production of my brother's written instructions, and I set the next Monday as the day on which I would start. I was really not fit to undertake such a journey, but I could not miss seeing my sisters once more before they returned home- I could have sent the money easy enough, but I had promised myself too much pleasure with my dear relatives in Venice to miss it now. "Monday morning came, and I could not rise from my bed without assistance. A sort of neuralgic affection had seized all my nerves, and I was forced to stay indoors, and resort to hot baths and medicine. But on the following morning I felt able to start, and did so. Upon reaching Pistoja I learned that there was no diligence to leave before the next day. I could not stand this. I was already behind my time, and, if the thing could be accomplished, I must go on. There was a diligence under ihe shed, but no one to drive it. ' But can't we hire some one ? ' I asked. 'If signor will pay,' was the laconic reply. Of course I would pay; and though the sum charged was a pretty round one, yet I did not hesitate. The lumbering vehicle was dragged out ; four miserable looking horses were attached, and then a yoke of stout oxen hitched on ahead of them. Two rough-looking fellows were provided, one as a vetturino (postillion), and the other to drive the oxen. Thus provided, I took my seat, arid the diligence started. "We were to cross the Apennines by the Pass of La Collina, and had just begun to ascend the rugged mountain path when I heard a loud hallooiug behind, and in a moment the diligence stopped. . " 'What's the. matter ? ' I asked, poking my head out through the opening by my side. . "'Two men want' to ride,' returned the vetturino. ""."•■ " ' But I hare hired the diligence, and am in a hurry; so; drive on. If they wish to ride they must wait until to-morrow.' "-But the drivers were not to be governed thus. " ' It won't, make a-bit of difference,' they ?aid. 'We'll go just as fast} and, besides, they'll pay us something.' . ■-„.: •:„■ "By this time the cause of the trouble made its appearance in the shape of two dark-visaged, black-bearded, powerful men,

who. looked ugly .enough for the incarnation i of Murder. I recognised one of them as a fellow whom. l had seen hanging about the hotel at Florence, and the other I was confident I had caught a glimpse of just as the diligence lef t the yard at Pistoja. " I was on the point of speaking when the thought occurred to me that I had better keep my knowledge of the Italian language to myself. I might find, out the character of the fellows thus. I knew very w£ll that further remonstrance would be useless, for the drivers were stupidly hoggish, and the newapplicants were clearly not men to be argued with. The door was opened, and the fellows entered. I occupied the back seat, they took the seat at the other end, fixing themselves so as to face me. They looked at me out of wicked eyes, and as they threw back their short cloaks I saw they were well armed. ; i " ' Hope we don't trouble you ?' said one of, them, in coarse Italian, as the diligence started on. ; " I gazed inquiringly into his face, but made no reply. . " He repeated the remark, " ' No comprehend, signor,' I said, shaking my head. " « Ah— English,' he suggested, with a shrug of his shoulders. « < No— lrish,' said I to him. " Ugh I' he grunted, with another ■ shrug of the broad, massive shoulders, and an awful scowl of the face. •■■•-- --" We had now-begun to ascend the mountain in good earnest, and our pace was slow and lumbering. The fellow who drove the oxen made noise enough for an army, while the blows upon both oxen and horses fell hard and thick, but without accomplishing anything. Had I been alone, I might have enjoyed the magnificent scenery which unfolded itself below as we crept up the Collina ; but as it was I could not think of anything save the two men who had forced themselveß upon me. - Pretty soon one of them spoke, and though I appeared not to notice them, yet I could, see that they were watching me closely. " c Death and destruction !' he uttered in his own tongue, < we shall be over the precipice if that drunken driver is not careful.' " J read the fellow's purpose in a moment, and not a movement betrayed my understanding of what he had said. My eyes were half-closed, and to all appearance I was unconscious even of their presence. " ' He's right. He don't understand us,' said one of them. ■"."■• ■V ' All safe,' returned the other. £To be continued-]]