A MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 508, 5 January 1870, Page 3

A MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE.

♦ [Conclusion.] " After this they conversed together quite freely, and I was not long in having my worst fears realised. But not a change could they detect in my conntenance. I kept my knowledge as secret as the very grave, and all my feelings was within me. After awhile they became satisfied that I knew nothing of their language, and they became more bold in their speech, and talked their plan all over; and from them I learned the following highly interesting particulars : — " The one whom I had seen in Florence had by some means learned that I was to carry quite a large sum of money with me across the mountains, and he had come on to Pistoja, where his confederate was, to await my arrival, intending to rob me there, if possible. But when they found that I was to go alone in the diligence, they had a better plan. They would rob me on the mountain. The two drivers were friends of theirs, and were to be p&id liberally for allowing themselves to be overcome. The villains talked about cutting my throat, shooting me through the head, or plunging a knife into my heart, and then throwing me over the precipice, as coolly as though they had been planning the death of a fowl for dinner ! The place where they were to murder me was about a mile distant, where the road wound round a high crag, with an almost perpendicular wall of rock on one hand, and a deep chasm on the other. "This was an interesting position sure enough. I was weak — weak at best— but doubly weak now with my illness—and the only weapon I had was a single pistol. Either of the brigands could have thrown me over his head with ease, and as for fighting with them, that was out of the question. What could Ido ? Both the drivers were in league with them. If I leaped from the diligence I should die on the spot where I landed. If I shot one of the bandits the other would annihilate me in a moment. I had the gold in a small travelling-bag under my feet, and as the heavy carriage jolted over the stones the yellow pieces jingled sharply, and I could see the eyes of the villains sparkle like stars. "At length the high craggy peak was in sight, and I could see where the road wound abruptly around it. Thus far I had been torturing my brains to invent some way of escape, but without effect. I was thoroughly hedged in as though bound by iron chains. And in a few minutes all would be over. Still I felt for my pistol, and had it ready. " Presently the diligence stopped at the foot of an abrupt rise, and the fellow who drove the oxen came and told the bandits they must get out and walk up. They stepped out at once, and in a moment more I heard a slight scuffle. I looked out just in time to see both drivers lashed together by the arms, back to back. They must have been placed ready for the operation, for the thing had been done with incredible quickness. I drew my pistol and awaited the result. My heart was in my mouth, but the intense excitement rendered me strong for the while. "Ina few seconds one of the villains came and poked the muzzle of a huge pistol into my face. " ' Gold ! gold !' he said. ' Give me gold, or die.' " "It was but the work of a second to knock the weapon down with my left hand, while with my right I brought up my own pistol and fired. The ball entered between the eyes, and he reeled back and fell. Then I leaped after him, for I saw his companion coming up on the other side. I hoped to gain the dead man's pistol, but ere I could do so the heavy hand of the living bandit was upon

my shoulder, and his pistol aimed at my head. With the energy which the presence of death can alone beget, I knocked his weapon down and grappled with him. He hurled me to the ground as though I had been a child: but before he could follow up his advantage, the postillion cried out — " ' Hold, Maco ! A vettura is coming.' " The robber turned, and in a moment more a heavy vettura, with four horses attached, came round the corner, full upon us. I started to my feet, and saw my brother looking from the open window. " ' Help ! Robbers !' I shouted, with all my might. " The bandit had taken aim at the vetturino of the new team, but he was too late. My brother had comprehended the whole truth in a moment, and with a sure aim, and a quick one, too, he shot the villain through the heart. " We secured my two drivers, "and then matters were quickly explained. I told my brother all that had happened, and he then told me that he had heard of my illness, and was coming back to see me. One of my sisters had been ill at Bologna, so that they had not yet gone to Venice, but were waiting until I should be able to join them. You can imagine how deep our gratitude was, and how fervently we blessed God for this fortunate interposition. My joy seemed to lift me up from the pain I had suffered, and I felt better than I had before felt for weeks. " And now what should we do next? Should we let the two rascally drivers go, and turn about for Bologna ? " ' No," said my brother, ' Our sisters won't expect us for three days, so we'll carry these villains back and give them up, and tomorrow we will go over in my vettura.' " We tumbled the dead bodies into the diligence, and then bound the two drivers hand and foot, and tumbled them in after. The oxen were cast adrift, and my brother's vetturino mounted and started the heavy team back, while we assumed the control of the vettura ourse'Te3. " The drive down the mountain was quickly performed, and the city of Pistoja was reached without mishap. The two dead men were recognised as old offenders at once, and my testomony very quickly settled the business for the drivers. On the next night we were in Bologna, where my sister received me with open arms, and two days afterwards we were all in Venice. "So much for my trip across the Apennines. And let me say to you — If you have ever an occasion to hire a special diligence, with strange drivers, to ride over the mountains of Italy, be sure that you are wellarmed, and have a trusty friend with you if possible."