Mezzoni the Brigand — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI 'THE BRIGAND, 151 and her form supported by his encircling arm. He had managed to bind a handkerchief over the flesh- wound of his left arm, and it was not particularly painful, though it had been considerably at first. The market man’s horse was fresh, and a very good one, so that they made capital progress over the smooth and well-macadamized road. The brigands were accustomed to all sorts of con- tingencies and the proper mode to meet them, and so, aS Walter had anticipated, they had actually sent forward one of the band and stationed him as near as practicable upon the road to the city walls, to intercept the fugitives provided they should suc- ceed in reaching that point. So Walter now discov- ered a man but a short distance in advance of them by the side of the road, whom he felt sure was one of the band. The next-moment this man called out: ‘Halt, or I fire!’’ | “IT will,” exclaimed the terrified driver, preparing to stop his horse. | “If you do I will shoot you,’’ said Walter to the market man, showing him a pistol. At the same moment, possessing himself of the whip, he struck the horse several sharp and rapid blows. The animal sprang forward with high spirits into a swift gait, just as a pistol ball whistled by the ears of the fugitives. The brigand who had been posted at this spot was only armed with pistols—he had no rifle—and Wal- ter knew that they could almost instantly get out of range of that weapon. The driver also was nothing loth to put all possible space between himself and the danger behind. Another shot followed, but as it was fired while the robber was running, it flew wide of the aim he had ~ comicbooks ‘ 5 . Le ‘ ~~ *