Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 6).djvu/222

"hat a handsome portrait, Fred! Who was your model?"

"My wife," responded Fred Wynton, as he followed his friend's gaze of admiration to a portrait standing on an cascl in his studio.

"Your wife! What, are you married, then?" queried Henry Aubert, as he looked in a surprised manner at his friend. "You made no mention of the subject to me when we parted at Milan a year ago. I always thought you were too careless a fellow to settle down as a prosy Benedict, Fred."

"So I thought," was the response, "but that was before my adventures in Corsica. I had quite a romantic as wcll as exciting time of it after leaving you—in fact, I have only been in England a month."

"May I hear the circumstances which brought about such a change in you?" asked Henry Aubert, with a smile, as he leant back in a low chair, and took a proffered cigar.

"By all means, old fellow, only mind, no chaff afterwards," said Fred Wynton, and sitting down by the long French window, he faced his friend, and began the narrative of his adventures.

"You remember I told you when we parted that morning at Milan that I intended to indulge in a couple of months' shooting in Corsica? Well, on my arrival at the home of big game and banditti, I proceeded to put my wishes into practice. I had obtained, as I thought, a trustworthy guide in the person of Luigo Cospi, who had offered me his assistance shortly after my arrival. He knew the island thoroughly, and also how to avoid the districts infested by mountain robbers; so on the recommendation of my host, who was evidently in league with him, as I found out afterwards, I engaged his services.

"Matters went well enough for a couple of weeks. My guide was a splendid shot, a careful attendant, and apparently faithful. We had traversed a considerable distance one day when, as I felt exceedingly weary, I lay down to rest in a shady nook, leaving Cospi on guard with his loaded carbine. The steady tramp of my attendant as he passed to and fro gradually produced a drowsiness; I closed my eyes, and was soon fast asleep.

"How long my slumber lasted I am unable to say, but the sun had gone down when I awoke, and in the twilight my eyes rested on secveral forms standing close by in animated conversation. They were gathered round my guide, who was gesticulating and talking excitedly. Hearing my name pronounced by him, I endeavoured to raise my right hand to rub my eyes, when, to my great surprise, I found myself unable to do so. Looking down, I observed that a coil of rope, evidently part of a lariat, which Cospi had used occasionally during the past two weeks, was twined several times round my waist and secured my arms firmly to my sides. I struggled to my feet, and was instantly observed by the miscreants, one of