Alfred de Rosann — page 145: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

136 ALFRED DE ROSANN. mies, he was tripped up from behind, and levelled with the ground as he attempted to descend from the first step of the earriage whereon he had mounted to reach his pistols, one of which exploded as he fell. No sooner was De Rosann thus powerless on the muddy road, than one of the two robbers who re- mained capable of acting—for the other was still senseless—leaped upon our hero to prevent him from rising, and presented a large clasp-knife to the back of his neck, touching the skin with the point, and in- stantly withdrawing it, not from motives of cruelty, but merely to show the vicinity of the murderous weapon. ‘The companion of the man thus employed in acting as sentry over De Rosann, proceeded to examine the’ carriage, and, for that purpose, he de- tached one of the lanterns hanging. in front. No sooner did the lamp move from its place, than Alfred felt himself suddenly relieved of the load from his back, and, starting up, he ascertained, by the glim- mering rays of light, that the robber who had kept him down was struggling in the vigorous grasp of the postilion. De Rosann lost not a minute, but rushed upon the remaining highwayman who was about to commence his examination of the carriage, and le- velled him to the ground with a blow of the pistol which had exploded. He then relieved the postilion of his-charge, by tying the robber’s arms and legs with some cordage he hastily cut from one of his trunks, and, rolling him into a dry diteh at the side of the road whither the post-boy had at first retired for refuge, and whence he had emerged when a fa- vourable opportunity of putting an end to the combat presented itself. That opportunity was diseovered by the rays of the lantern which was detached from its place to aid the thief in the investigation of the baggage, as detailed above. Our hero was about to jump into the chaise and continue his journey, when one of the robbers, that lay stretched upon the road, gave a loud groan. De Rosann seized the lantern from the hands of the pos- Gomichbooks..com)