opped vibrating. The tail itself stood straight out behind
him and became rigid like a bar of iron. I never saw a stancher point.

"Steady, boy!"

I pushed forward the safety of my shot-gun and stood at attention.

"How is she?"

"Seems to be pulling through. I heard you fire both barrels. What luck?"

ASABRI

Asabri, head of the great banking house of Asabri Brothers in Rome, had
been a great sportsman in his youth. But by middle-age he had grown a
little tired, you may say; so that whereas formerly he had depended upon
his own exertions for pleasure and exhilaration, he looked now with
favor upon automobiles, motor-boats, and saddle-horses.

Almost every afternoon he rode alone in the Campagna, covering great
distances on his stanch Irish mare, Biddy. She was the handsomest horse
in Rome; her master was the handsomest man. He looked like some old
Roman consul going out to govern and civilize. Peasants whom he passed
touched their hats to him automatically. His face in repose was a sort
of command.

One day as he rode out of Rome he saw that fog was gathering; and he
resolved, for there was an inexhaustible well of boyishness within him,
to get lost in it. He had no engagement for that night; his family had
already left Rome for their villa on Lake Como. Nobody would worry about
him except Luigi, his valet. And as for this one, Asabri said to
himself: "He is a spoiled child of fortune; let him worry for once."

He did not believe in fever; he believed in a good digestion and good
habits. He knew every inch of the Campagna, or thought he did; and he
knew that under the magic of fog the most familiar parts of it became
unfamiliar and strange. He had lost himself upon it once or twice
before, to his great pleasure and exhilaration. He had felt like some
daring explorer in an unknown country. He thought that perhaps he might
be forced to spend the night in some peasant's home smelling of cheese
and goats. He would reward his hosts in the morning beyond the dreams of
their undoubted avarice. There would be a beautiful daughter with a
golden voice: he would see to it that she became a famous singer. He
would give the father a piece of fertile land with an ample house upon
it. Every day the happy family would go down on their knees and pray for
his soul. He knew of nothing more delicious than to surprise unexpecting
and deserving people with stable benefactions. And besides, if only for
the sake of his boy