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224 REGNARD’S JOURNEY TO LAPLAND.
fides: they cried out to our coachman to ftop, who had no inclination to obey them,
and madea fignal to us to prepare our piftols ; which we immediately did, and defcend-
ed from the chariot with the piftols in our hands, accompanied by our valet, who
armed with a firelock, kept them in check. When they obferved this arrangement,
they ftopt fhort, and regarded us, without daring to approach. We continued our
journey on foot, with our piftols in our hands; and as it was late, we arrived a fhort
time after at the inn, where they fent two of their companions, who came, like paffen-
gers, to obferve the fituation of our countenances. ‘They faw, that we had our arms
ready, and that we were on foot during the whole night. We did not,;know them to be
what they really were ; and as it was already late, we had been unable to remark them
on account of the obfcurity. ‘They fet out two hours before day break, and we were
arranging matters to fet out, when the coachman told us, that he had feen them join
four others in the neighbourhood of the houfe, and that they had entered the wood,
which was about a hundred paces diftant. We did not think it prudent to depart, till
the return of day; and we were waiting till it fhould be light, when we heard four
carriages pafling, containing two oxen each. Weembraced this opportunity of pafling
through the wood ; and as it was clear moon-light, we obliged all the drivers to take
white fticks in their hands, which appeared by the light of the moon, as if they had
been mufkets. In this manner, we pafled on, while they dared not attack us, although
we heard them ruftling on every fide. At the firft village we arrived at, the people
informed us, that the wood was full of them, and that it was difficult to pafs it without
being robbed.
Wearrived at Cracow on Thurfday morning ; we had fome difficulty in procuring
lodgings, for there was no tavern in the place. We found an Italian, who conducted us
to his houfe. This man, like all his countrymen, immediately deafened us with his
loud noife ; he talked about nothing, but millions, his equipage, his horfes, and his
chariot. We were not long in difcovering, that the fellow was one of the greateft
{coundrels that ever lived. We were no fooner feated at table, then he went to borrow
three wooden fpoons of his landlord, and told us, that he had given out his own which
were filver, to be cleaned. We talked of going out after dinner, and having inquired,
whether he had a fword, he told: us, that he had unfortunately fallen the day before,
and that, in falling, he had broken it, and had confequently given it to an armourer. In
jooking at our piftols, he told us, that he hada pair which he had purchafed at Amfter-
dam, which were double-barrelled, and which were at prefent in the hands of the ar-
mourer, that they might be cleaned. He told us, that he would take us in his chariot to
fee the mines; but when the time came, he faid his chariot was newly painted, and
four of his horfes were lame. But what was moft entertaining, was, that he was
always protefting, that he would take nothing for our lodging with him ; and when it
was neceflary to go to market, he came to afk a crown, faying, that he had given away
all his cafh for letters of exchange on Meff. Peflalouki of Vienna. He faid, he had a
law-fuit refpecting two houfes in the city worth ten thoufand francs, which had come to
his poffeffion through his wife ; and neverthelefs, he wifhed to return with us the fol-
lowing day, without any intention of ever coming back. And having afked the reafon
why he would leave fuch a fine property, and {uch excellent expectations ; ** O” faid
he, “* that gives me no uneafinels ; I fhall fettle all that bufinefs to-morrow ; I fhall
« gain my law-fuit; I fhall fell my houfes.’” We {aw quite well his rafcally intentions,
but we wifhed to amufe ourfelves with him tothe end; and to pufh the raillery a little
farther, I afked him, if he would give me letters of exchange on Vienna, for money
which I fhould pay him. At this propofition, joy began to fparkle on the fcoundrel’s
2 countenance ;
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