CHAPTER XLVII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2417, 7 January 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XLVII.

TO DIE AT DAYBREAK

Patroconi, with bis suspicions aroused, sped back to the camp with eyes and ears open to every sign of danger. He passed through Pompeii, noticing the gendarmerie posted there as ho did so. lie was prepared for this. He had been enjoined that in consequence of the capture of Sir Jasper and his parts, the authorities had established a post there for the purpose of patrolling the road to Ainalfi. On his way to Naples he had scon himself that this was true, but it was by no means to bo deduced by that they had the slightest intention of taking active measures against himself and his followers. He had had too much experience of the powers that be in Italy (the Italy of the days I am writing of) to feel much disturbed about that. He thought ho quite understood what a demonstration of this kind was worth. It was a polite hint that his next freak of this nature must be carried on elsewhere. That Naples would not submit to the imputation of having her environs infested with banditti, and that he would be good enough to look for his next victims in some other direction. But what caught the Count's quick eye at once as he "passed through the town was the great addition that had been made to the force there since some forty-eight [hours before. He felt sure that there were at least three of the police whore had been but one before. " Something more than a demonstration this?" he muttered to himself, "and yet they surely can't be such fools as to attempt to meddle with me under the present circumstances.'' When ho left the road and struck across country towards the woods, he speedily became conscious of unfamiliar faces, He did not pass many men, but ie saw figures in the distance, both right and left of him. Peasants they were apparently, but Patroeeivs quick eye detected that if they were peasants that had been through the drill sergeant's hands. He spoke to one or two of them, and the rather lame replies they gave to his questions convinced him that those men were either police oi\'soldier's in the garb of peasants. Rapidly the Count awoke_ to the conviction that he was passing through a cordon of skirmishers, who were very slowly feeling their way towards the woods where the camp was pitched. Ho thought ho detected a half tendency to stop him, only none of those he passed quite liked to take that responsibility upon themselves. "Betrayed," muttered the Count to himself, as he pushed rapidly onwards. " That scoundrel Hammerton has doubtless gone to the police, in spite of all his asseverations to the contrary, and this is the result? The miserable fools think they can trap Patroceni. They are pushing forward this body of scouts, evidently feeling for our encampment. All that force 1 saw at Pompeii will, they doubtless are, being pushed forward as fast as possible to the attack. Captain Hammerton, the livee of your friends wax short. When they have seen the sun rise twice they may say good-bye to this world; and for you," muttered the Count, ''let your cowardly carcase be within striking distance for a few more days and you also will have done with things terrestrial, oven if my own life pays the penalty. Mistake ! yes, a mistake," he continued, as he breasted the bill. " Well! we are all liable to error." And the Count made this reflection in the same sort of spirit that a benevolent man might have done regarding ill-judged charitable relief. " Had I followed my natural instincts, and simply put an end to Giovanni and also Hammerton, the one dangerous to me through his drunken stupidity, the other from his utter falsity, I should have been in no straits now, and the chances are two infinitely better men would have been spared. Insensible, apparently, to fatigue or want of food, Patroceni tramped on the livelong night. He passed that hut on the mountain where Wheldrakc had slept on his plateau, pausing there only for a drink of cold water, and to hear what the nominal shepherds had to tell him. They formed the extreme outpost of his camp, and in answer to his enquiries replied that they had noticed no strangers about the country, Sarini's vigilance had apparently not yet been alarmed, }f ir °- ceni still continued to push on with all the speed hu could muster—a wiry, muscular man, with great powers of endurance, which had been tested many a time and oft in his adventurous life.

To reach the camp as quickly as possible was now his object. He had made up his mind he would sacrifice his prisoners at daybreak the next morning and retreat with a picked body of his followers, carrying Sir Jasper with him. One

thing only troubled him. What was he to do with the women ? He did not want to slay thorn. Pitiless as he was, there was something repugnant to him in the idea of taking a woman's life, and yet it was impossible to take them with him on such a rapid retreat as he contemplated. As for Wheldrake he had brought his fate upon himself, and, indeed, doomed Glanfielfl and Jackson to destruction as well. Yes, Glaufield must die, he regretted it, but it was an exigency that could not bo avoided. One prisoner was as much as he could be hampered with. As for Jackson. Well, a butler, more or less, was of no great matter in tho world. But the women ! What was he to do with tho women ? Ah !he had it ? He would leave them behind him. They would be sure to be discovered in a day or two, and would take no harm for that

time. It was late in tho afternoon when 1 atroeeni reached the camp, and, sending one of his men for Sarini, made the best of his way to his own tone. Sarini! that was another thing to be considered; what was he to do with his trusty lieutenant? who, though much better, was still too lame for such a rapid march as he contemplated. He had not to wait long before Sarini presented himself and listened quietly to the news his chief brought. "I made nothing out of Matteos murder. People are so utterly at fault thoy don't even know whom to suspect, but it is as welll went to Naples. We arc betrayed, Sarini. The police have got hold of that drunken idiot, Giovanni. Signor Ilammerton, too, I feel quite sure, is in communication with them besides."

" Giovanni !" exclaimed Sarini; " I did xiot even know that ho was alive. _ I thought your Excellency dismissed him for good." "No; he lircs, and could they but persuade him to show them the way to the camp they would probably be upon us this night; as it is I passedthrough their scouts, who are slowly feeling their way across the hills. They know precisely where we arc at present." "Your Excellency will not wait for them, I presume," said Sarini; " and the Signor Hammertoes treachery will entail its usual consequences on his friends." "The prisoners will die at daybreak, with the exception of Sir Jasper," rejoined the Count, curtly. We don't shoot women, so I shall leave them behind. The rest of us must be many miles away by to-morrow night. There is only one question : What shall we do with you? Your ancle is hardly strong enough, as yet, to stand such hard work as lies before us." "No, Excellenza, I should only break down. I shall take refuge in one of tho shepherd's huts about. lam not likely to be interfered with, unless Giovanni points me out." "No," returned l'atroceni quietly, " he'll not do that. He is betraying us unwittingly ; he is very stupid, aud he will drink. The police have got hold of him, and know that he belongs to us. Ho does not know it, but he lives under perpetual cross-examination. You will run no risk as far as he is concerned."

" Never mind me, Excellenza, I can take care of myself: but from what you tell me it is very possible that wo shall be attacked before daybreak. Between threats aud gold our ill-advised friends from Naples will not find much dHKculty about getting a guide to our retreat. We shall have an account to settle with Signor Hanunerton that neither you, nor I, °Count, arc the men to forget. And these others : shall you give them notice of their fate ? It will be as well, poor devils, to grant them time to make their peace with God." " Yes, most men havo last words, and last messages, to leave behind them, God pity those Sarini, like ourselves, with neither kith nor kin, and whose last words can bo no more than a prayer for our country. Wo have spent our lives _in pursuit of tho grand idea of an Italian Republic. We havo been on the crest of every littlo storm-wave from our boyhood. Wo havo waded through bloodshed, danger, and what the world calls crime— nay, worse, they would more likely say murder—and all to what end ? In tho vainest pursuit of a chimera that wo seem as far from as when we began. It is too late to change our political creed. We must go on, and levy taxes for our country." Grandiloquent sentences these, such as fanatics like the Count and Sarini are wont to uso in justifying to themselves their deeds of rapine and bloodshed. Much argument of this sort, rife, I should

think, amongst the leading statesmen in those South American Republics that physically and politically live an existence of earthquakes. As for the Count and Sarini, they were the regenerators of Italy no doubt; but it was a regcuoration of which the principal idea was that they should bo at tho holm of public affairs—No other scheme of Government was quite satisfactory to these patriots. " Yos," continued Patroceni, after a long , pause, it is only just to give men time when possible to make up their accounts in this world. Fetch Whcldrako and Glanfiold horc ; never mind about the servaut, ho has lived in terror of his life, I fancy, ever since ho has been here. It will be a sin to disturb his last night's slumbers." Sariui stolo noiselessly from tho tent, not tho first time by many that ho had warned men they were to die at daybreak. And in good truth there had been times in his stormy career in which night after night he had expected a like lullaby ere ho laid his head on the pillow. A few minutes, and he returned accompanied by the two victims. "Gentlemen," said Patroconi, with a courteous bow, " I regret to say that I have unpleasant news to communicate to you. I must in my own defence point out to Signor Wheldrako that it was his own rashTiuterf crcuo with my plans which has caused this sad necessity. Tho police are advancing to your rescue, instigated, I have little doubt, by Captain Haminerton. I warned you, gentlemen, what would infallibly bo the result of any such movement on their part, I will be perfectly candid with you. To await an attack hero would be madness on my part. I should bo so outnumbered that if repulsed at first their ultimate success would be certain, whilst tho possbility of a retreat would bo lost. To carry so many of you with me as prisoners is impossible. Tho men must die. Tho ladies I shall leave behind me. A dull day or so is all tho inconvenience they are likely to suffer before assistance comes to them." "I should be very sorry to interfere with any family arrangements," said Glanßeld ; "but if you could make it convenient to leave us behind with tho ladies, I think it would bo ploasanter for all concerned." " I know Hammerton was a scoundrel, exclaimed Whuldruko, "but L would uovor have believed'thia oi him." " I shall leave you behind, Mr Glanfiold, but I am afraid you will not much lighten the dullness of the ladies. Brigandage has its obligations, and would bo a trade of very little use if it wore not respected. Communication with the police is death by tho law of tho mouutaiu. If that law wore not strictly kept, the arranging of ransoms would boimpossible." "But," cried Wheldrako, " this money ig raised, we know." "How?" said Patroconi, briefly, as his dark eyes looked through the speaker. " You duffer !" muttered Glimfield. Wheldrako hesitated, looked confused, and eventually said: " Wo havo every

reason to bo believe that arrangement to be satisfactorily concluded." " Mr Wheldrake," rejoined the Count, "you aro either making a statement for which you have uo grounds or you are in communication with Naples. Having invariably found you an upright honourable man, I have no doubt that my latter theory is the correct one. Thia makes my situation so much more complicated, Gentlemen, I will wish you good-night now, and regret that necessity will compel me to wish you a permanent adieu at daybreak. Make your peace withheavon to-night, and believe me that any last wishes you may express will bo most scrupulously attended to. Onoe more, good-night. Conduct these gentlemen to their tents, Suriui." And with a bow that would have dono no discredit to a throne-room the Count dismissed his unfortunate guests. {To be Continued.)