An Italian Count.

ringing for the luncheon-tray to be taken away . ' * Very Avell , then , we were traveling through one of the small mountainvillages after leaving Naples . Night came on , and with it a storm . I can never forget that gloomy pass , Avhich , when the

lig htning revealed its awful chasms that seemed to be running fire or melting lightning , filled me with emotions of terror impossible to describe . You know I am constitutionally hardy ; it takes a good deal to frihten mebut Horace Avas quite ill ,

g , and I suffered more on his account than on my own , as his nerves Avere completely unstrung . The thunder Avas deafening ancl almost continuous . Indeed , sometimes it seemed as if the solid rock came leaping out of the mountain-side and crashing

across our path . Every moment I expected the carriage to be blocked . At last one long , lurid flash of lightning disclosed a sight Ave were utterly unprepared for . It seemed in that one white moment as if the Avhole world Avere revealedfor I seemed to

, see distinctly hundreds of cities , ancl mountain-peaks behind them towering upon mountain-peaks . It Avas , of course , an illusion , but the sight nearest our carriage

Avas very real— : ten or a dozen swarthy , black-eyed robbers , bearded savagely , and armed to the teeth , their uniforms shoAving splendidly in the stormy glare , though they Avere sorry-looking enough in open day . I thought that , like the vision of the cities , it Avas phantasmal ; but these Avere uo

creatures of the imagination . Suddenly the driver stopped his horses , gave a IOAV cry of terror , and then shots Avere heard . 0 the terrible , SAvallowing , engulfing darkness ! and Ave in the power of the mountainbauditti , the most dangerous and least

scrupulous criminals in the Avorld , What followed seems to me HOAV like a confused dream . There Avere clashing of arms , outcries , oaths—I felt myself drawn from the carriage without the power of resistance , but holding on to Horace , Avho

scrambled out with me . Fortunately , I could speak Italian Avith the best of them , and that may have made the chief of the band more lenient , I begged him to forbear violence , for my brother Avas ill ; and , indeed , Avhen the lightning blazed again , showing poor Hod's Avhite face , this same leader , in the most finished Italianthe language of a scholar , indeed , ancl not

the patois of the peasant—assured me that we should none of us be harmed . "Another moment ancl the stormy , picturesque Avay was lighted by a dozen or more lanterns , that threw their lurid light through red glass on the scarred and gaping rocks , the chasmsthe cataracts

, , the awful jagged heights ; but by their friendly light we Avere Avalked up a rugged , circuitous road , and taken at last into a veritable cavern , along whose rocky Avails the thunder rolled , sounding like a thousand parks of artillery .

" Fortunately for both Horace ancl myself my composure did not desert me . In the midst of all that was frightful , uncertain , and romantic , I managed to keep up his spirits and support his trembling steps . You knoAV hoAV fond I always was of the

sensational and supernatural . Well , our entrance to this deep , dark cave , at the extreme end of which I could see a great fire blazing , before which strange forms flitted back and forth , gave me a singular thrill , a something akin to a- Avild , fierce delight—don ' t laugh at me , Jack . " Besides , Ave could smell the savour of

roasting meat , ancl , to one who had been fasting for nearly ten hours , this of itself was sufficient to disperse some of my most troublesome fancies . I had no idea that they intended to starve us . We were treated Avith some courtesy and given to understand that the attacking party did not wish to be considered thieves , assassins , or murderers .

" The strength ancl standing of our little company hacl doubtless been accuratel y measured , and , as Ave afterwards learned , the driver had been in league with the robbers . We were jirobably considered of such importance to justify the demand of

a heavy ransom for our restoration . Feeling assured that we were not to be killed and cooked , I tried to make myself as much at home as was possible under the circumstances " As soon as I hacl thiwn off my hat and cloak

, and found a comfortable place for Horace , I took out—for display—a small silver crucifix Avhich a very devoted Catholic had presented to mo , and looked at it as if in silent devotion . I trust it Avas not entirel y as a ruse , for I felt what the Christian

must feel whenever he looks upon that sacred emblem . ( To be continued . )