164

LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

going the way contrary to ours, holloed out to my driver, i“ Fnggi, Calessiere—fuggi ,”—Fly, Cabman, fly! Suddenly \looking back, we saw the sbirro, dismounted from his ass, jpursuing us gun in hand, as fast as he could. This wasenough for my man,—who hastily crossing himself, and call-ing on Santa Maria del Carmine , began to flog his horses—ejaculate and flog like a very maniac. The horses kicked andgalloped, the crazy vehicle bounded from side to side; everyinstant I expected to be upset, and thus, perhaps, maimed,become a prey to the pursuing sbirro. In vain I supplicatedmy man to stop. I had left my gun at home, but I had a gooddouble-barrelled pocket pistol, with which I should, with pro-per management and stratagem, have easily killed the sbirro.

I had turned my face and body towards the rogue, who runninglike a lamplighter hallooed out stop ! stop! I knew betterthan to fire, then, with such a weapon, but his sbirroship,tired with the pursuit, levelled his piece and pulled thetrigger, but it flashed in the pan. Now was the momentfor my decided advantage. I seized the reins, and stoppedthe horses against the will of my conductor. In a twinklingI was on my legs, and on my way to meet the sbirro, who hav- !ing stopped to knock his flint, and to reprime, now levelled at :me his piece and fired—missed me and gave me the vantage jground with my pistol undischarged. I rushed towards him |—he was very fleet of foot, and in a very few seconds, ;getting to a road side cottage, rushed in and closed the door.

Of course, it would not do for me to wait there to be shotat from a window, with his reloaded musket; so I remountedmy calesse and pursued my ride to Caserta , where I arrivedin safety, made a delicious supper of fried frogs and roastedbeccafichi, washed down with a bottle of excellent Falernianwine, and then retired to a bed full of bugs.

The following day I dined with Mr. Vallin, who had avery pleasant mansion and beautiful grounds at Caserta . I