Mezzoni the Brigand — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

34 MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. when they chanced to meet another party of tourists. From them they learned that brigands had been seen upon the road on the previous day, and one party had been stopped and robbed by them, between Peestum and Salerno. This was not very pleasant news to our party; it was already near nightfall, and a sense of undefined . uneasiness gradually came over them. They knew of the occasional raids of the banditti, but the pres- ent was thought to be a perfectly safe time for their trip. While they were briefly discussing the matter they descried a couple of horsemen, just in advance of them, drawn up by the side of the road. ‘“Those men are waiting for us,”’ said the colonel. ‘‘Are you armed?’’ asked the other gentleman. ‘‘No, I had no idea that it was necessary.”’ ‘IT am in the same situation.”’ The suspense of the party was soon over, for as they came up abreast of the horsemen the two riders, after ordering the driver to stop and not dare to move on pain of being instantly shot, appeared one at each side of the coach, revolver in hand. One, who seemed to be the leader, said. in very good English: ‘Your valuables instantly—watches and purses. Time is precious.”’ ‘“Who are you?’’ demanded the colonel. ‘Masters of this road.”’ | “Lucky for you we are unarmed,’’ replied the Englishman, but, in common with the rest of the party, at the same time delivering up his watch. “Take off your gloves, ladies,’’ said the leading robber. “I will trouble you to make haste.”’ ‘“What is that for?’’ asked the colonel. ‘We will relieve them of further care of those dia- cComicboo ‘S.cO