The Lancaster ledger. (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, June 28, 1854, Image 1
* * *>****> fl
$2 PER ANNUM. IN ADVANCE j
NEUTRAL IN POLITICS?DEVOTED TO LITERARY, COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC, GENERAL AND LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. i
VOLUME III. LANCASTER, C. H., SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY MORNING.JUNE 23.1851. NUMBER 2i> j
OI?OI?niP |T| JA T Tin ~?*'ler wb'ch w? turned into bed, warn- | seldom heard of after. You understand, | rows would forgive the speaker for his led back mv own ?h?ii? nw?.> ?- ti.<... i . w >
NWil .H.I it I A I .HA inK the waiter to summon n? o?rl? I 1M
UUUUU1 1X1JUUU.
THE
WMSM-SIffl.
A True Narrative.
In the summer of lust year, I was proceeding
home to Britain, on leave of absence
from my regiment, the ?th Highlanders,
which were then, and are still, lying
in garrison at Malta. Favored l>y the
friendship of her commander, and my
good iriend and old school fellow, Lieutenant
John Hall, I had a passage given
to me in her Majesty's Sloop Blonde, of
twenty-six guns ; and after a pleasant run
for a few days, a smart breeze, which we
encountered off Alinunecar, when sailing
along the coast of Spain, brought down
some of her top bnni|>er, and we ran in to
Malaga to repair the damage.
It was a Iwmutiftd and sunny evening
when our j.nehor plunged into the shininnr
waters of thiii iWnlwv
o - 1 V I'.v-cino
so superb h line f?lcoh?U and the backJf
round of which informed by tlieundulatng
line of Sierra de Mija towering into
the pure blue sky of Spain, and bounding
in the distance the Out and fertile Vega.
From tlie quarter-deck of the Blonde,
we had a magnificent pro?j?ect of Malaga,
with its stately mansions, its domes, its
spire* and snowy kiosk*, bathed ii a
warm, yellow tint, as the sun'* rays faded
along the Vega, and the shadows decpened
ou it* hill*, clothed with vine'-'iir Is and
plantation* of orange, almond, lemon and
orange tree*. The gaudy Spanish flag
descended from tho dark ramparts of the
old Moorish fortress of Gihral-Faro, u* the
evening gun wa? fired from the guard
hip; and tben, as the sun act behind the
mountains, the bells tolled for vespers in
the lofty steeple of tho square cathedral,
tld a.wal lambent light began to glimmer
on the tall oriefc chimneys of that e*tensivo
tron-foundry, wl.ieh?alas for romance!?a
thoroughly practical Scothinan
has built in Malaga, where it finds
fv>i and work for hundred*, in smelting
the ore of tho adjacent hill*, while it pollutes
the cerulean sky of Granada.
Bent upon a ramble or adventure, the
Second lieutenant (Jack llall) and I took
our fowtiug-piecea, and, leaving our sword*
liehind us?at least I took only my regimental
dirk?were pullrd ashore in the
dingy, which landed u* at one of those
pier* that project from the city into the
sea, forming part of that noble mole which
measure* seveu hundred yard* in length.
Leaving our guns and shooting apparatus
at a hotel, wo wandered about the
town ; visited the A'casaba, which must
once have been a fortress of vast strength ;
then the old Roman Cathedral and Bisli
op'* Palace; but we lingered longtst in
the Alameda?that beautiful promenade
?which m eigiitj feel wide, end i* bordered
by row* of orange and oleander
tree*, and in the centre of which a magnificent
marble fountain wm tossing iu
sparkling waters into tbo starry sky.
Here we saw some bright-eyed Spanish
women in their dark mantillas and vails,
and not a few in the homely and asnredly
lew* graceful bonnet and shawl of London
and Paris, whose fashions are graduallw,
and, 1 think, unfortunately, superseding
the more captivating dress of old
Spain ; we saw, too, ferocious-looking soldier*
in dark drosses, wearing yellow sashes,
red forage caps, and enormous mustaches
; old priests gliding stealthily along
with aa aspect of meekness, and apparently
crushed in spiiit; for the present government
presses with a heavy hand on the
ecclesiastic*; eitiaens clad in light stufls
of bright colors, with red taaltes and lowcrown
bats, having black silk tufts at each
aide; queer'looking oaballeros in large
?>rown cloaks, like that of Don Diego de
jMenoosju? roor nuiaujo, anti wearing
hat* a la Kottutk. As every man |
was smoking m if his salvation depended '
upon bis doing so with vigor, the whole !
.air was redolent of dgar*.
i bad on my undress?a foragecap,
and plain ted jacket, with tartan trews,
/?y sash and dirk ; fur I bave found that
phie British uniform always ensues the
jrearer sUMtius and respect in every part
fit the globe. *
We wandered long in that lovely Ala*
rneda, until the last of Its fair promena.dersbad
withdrawn; and then we return
,#d to onr hotel rather disappointed, that
of all the black eyes we had seen flashing
under veils of Madeira lace, not one bad
given us a glance of encouragement; that
. of all the pretty lips, which had been lie*
ping dulcet Spanish mixed with the Arebio
of Grenada, none had invited as to
follow ; tba^of all the aombro cavaliers
not one appeared to be an aaussin or a
Grand Inquisitor; and that, of all the hid*
ons old duennas whom we had seen cruising
about us, not one bad approached,
r*i ?HU? ftnger oo h? lip, end an impra jre
glee I. Hi her eye, pUeed a myeleei
,om mm H?t? either of our Lund, and
* di?|?P??oJ hi tl* <*owd.M
Nothing remarkable happened?e*ve
*hal Hall h?S H* pocket picked of hi*
J>i*4Jr*rel.i?l and #,K*re eaea wad we retaraed
Nfct Other mm la our hotel, wh ere
are eopped 09 devilled turkey end the
fHpeythe diet pet ^T>*nw M MeUge
have a guide to lead us towards the neighboring
hills, whero we intended to inake gt
some havoc among the game next day.
Punctually at Hve o'clock in ihe morning,
the mozo-de-cafe roused us, and, af- j>
ter coffee, we shouldered our double-barrelied
rifles, and accompanied by a young n<
gamin, named Pedrillo, for whose fidelity ^
the waiter pled his " honor," wo departed w
on our ramble. 0],
If ever my readers saw the Spanish ni
l*?ggar boys, aa depicted by Munllo, in jn
bis famous picture, which is now in I)ul- ar
wich College, they will know perfec.lylhe vc
aspect of Pedrillo. our little guide. .(l
Ile was about twelve years old: but,
hardened by indigence and sharpened by j
ITivation, his perceptive faculties were L
:eener than those of inany a man. Ilis ^
sallow little visage was stamped with
more of the animal than the intellectual '
being; his eyes were black, glossy, and
glittered alternately with cunning and in- 1
telligeuce. Ilia sole attire eonsisted of a
dilapidated shirt, a pair of knee breeches
and a Cowl, which confined his luxuriant j
| black hair ; he had zinc rings in his ears, ^
and bore alt? gether the asiiect of a little
, ? * mi
l*azzarone.
Mi
He was intelligent withal, and he told
us a vast numlier of anecdotes, which in |
creased in wouder and ferocity as we paid fja
hiin one peseta after another; but he
dwelt particnlarly on the achievement* of
a certain Juan Uoa, otherwise styled de ef
Antequera, who was tlicn prowling in
that savage range of mouulains, from
whence lie descended sometimes alona,
sometimes with ninny followers, esj>e<i,t! arl
I) when tlie Solan > blew from Africa, to
cominit outrage* among tlie quiet quintus
and villages of the fertile Vega, where he tw
was said to be in league w ith every ltosa en'
da-keeper for forty miles around Malaga.
About mid-day, we rested under the W
cool shadow of a cork wood, al>out ten Crt|
miles from the city; it was a lieautiful
place, where the sward was soft as velvet, ve
and where a thick bonier of blushing
mw tro?o ?%*><! wtlj ltyr)mnppg<t
near us. Llere we shared our provisions w'
with a paisano and two armed contra- w'
handistas whom we met, and who shared 011
with us their wine in return. The two
smugglers had ?trong and active horses, an
and carried blunderbusses and pistols to
guard their bales of chocolate, soap, to
Utcco and cigars; they were fine, merry ''0
fellows, gaudily dressed, and full of fun l'M
and anecdote; for in Spain the contraban* l'n
dista is a species of travelling newspaper, bo
Now all tbeir news were of the last feat et,
or outrage of Juan Ro:?.
441 would give a guinea to meet ibis in- thi
teresting vagabond ; the interview would
tell famously in some of the monthlies," it
said Hall, with a heedless laugh. hl<
u I think I should know him," said I ; i'>{
44 for we saw U least twenty colored prints a?
of liitn in the shops on the Alameda, last l>u
night, ile is a ferocious-looking dog! wl
The contrahand.stas looked round with 1>4alarm
and then laughed immoderately.
4'Ferocious! Indeed, senor," said the ?i
n:ds;itin 44 I lw?ir In ditF?>r from voil- hsv- I ho
ing myself seen Juan ot Antequera face to I"
face; aud so think hiin quite like other w>
men." I ha
I gazed at the speaker, whom, by hia wi
green velvet jacket, adorned by four dox- l>?
en of brass buttons, hia aomberero, with be
ita broad yellow ribbon, hia black plush ?
breeches, rod scarf and shoe buckle*, I sup- po
posed to be the substantial fanner of one tei
of the adjacent quint*, lie had a fine th
dark face, a powerful figure, and two black f&<
eyes that seeined to be always looking w<
through me. Over one ej ebrow, he had
a large black patch, lie carried a riding lit
switch, had a knife in his girdle ; and al- kil
together, as be lolled on the sward, smoking
a paper cigar and sipping red wine, 1 wl
thought he would make a fine and strik- th
ing sketch, and equal to any by Pi* Bi
nelli. bs
M Juan Boa," said be, " has committed
great outrages in the Vega of Granada. ?
The Duke of Wellington nak there an estate,
having on it about three hundred to
tenants, who yield some fifteen thousHnd lie
dollars of rental; but Juan has thrice
drawn every duro ot it from the old aba- tei
gado, who acta aa steward to the duke/* ou
The contrabandist's again laughed at bl<
this immoderately.
** You have seen this Juan of An toque- *n
ra, have you not T said I.
" Face to face?often, tenor." th
M And so have I," said littlo Pedrillo. of
M You land when wm Urn, my little ih
follow V raid Jack Hall. w,
M On Ihe night old Barradaa, the mule- da
tear, waa murdered." ce
Tho Spaniard with th? patch, knit hi* th
brown.
M Cnrnjo P aaid ha; M ah I I romeml>ar
that" \y
" Tall ua about thia murder," aaid
Halt l0
u You muat know, aenor\" aaid Pedrillo
14 that at the foot of tb# Herra da Mi- pja,
about H*a milea from thia, thara atanda |0
a way?hla inn, called La Poaada dal Oaralio,
for the keeper, Martin Saeao, had m pi
jrraat bort? painted on his tignboar J.? {A
tin. man it the uncle of Joan Hon, or of A
Anteqeera. lie bee a wife, and bed two hi
daagfcteee. The palace ie lonely | end k 0|
often happen*, that tboae who pot up p,
there for tb? eight forget the right path;
lor they ere loot apxyig tbn mountain^ |jf
r foil into tbeeend yHa at left tbey ere f|
iiure I V
The Spaniard with the patch smiled
rimly, and played with his knife. I
44 One night l*9t year, I guided Pedro I
aired as, the Cordovan muleteer, to the c
osada, when it was dark as pitch. IV n
o was very old, and half blind, and had
sver been that w ly before. A storm a
ime on, and he desired roe to remain a
itli him, saying he would pay me well; u
J Harradaa was rich ; he had made 8'
oney in the war of independence, and l'
the last civil war between the Carlists
id Christinos ; and had given three sil- n
r images to the church of his native tl
lebla, in Jaen.
44 We supped on bacallao, raisins and r<
ain bread, for the season was Lent, '
rhile we were at supper, in the common "
dl of the Posada, 1 heard the rain pat- ^
ring on the wooden shutters (there is 11
n a glass window in tlie house) ; I heard
e thunder grumbling among the liills, ?
id the wind howling us it swept over ?
c fields and vineyards of the Vega. It w
is a lonely place for a poor boy who ^
d neither father nor mother, scnors; p'
t, then, I was not worth killing, though >*'
sny fears flitted through my mind ; for
utin's wife?an ugly and wicked-loca- 01
Basque provincial -put some very ia
irming questions to old Pedro Barra- P
a. She told him that the neighborhood ae
is infested hy bandidoe and conlraban- g
itas ; and asked if he was a heavy sleep- sc
bi
*' No,' snid Barradas, 'in the war
ainst Jqseph Buonaparte, I learned the lc
i of sleeping lightly. S<
" But what will you do, if attacked?" w
" 'That is as may l e ; but I have only l,|
enty duros, and so shall sleep soundly **
IMIgll.'
1
"These ,-testions alarmed me very 1
icti ; vihi??ii? of murder and slaughter 5?'
>ne before mo. I crept close to purra 1
s, who, as 1 have said, waaver^old and a
ry frail ; but his presence sefined a pro- u
:tiou to me for a time.
u \V*l>Alt lf?? (t>* k?<l ro?c<1, W?, '
io were the only guests, wero some- "
int imperatively requested to retire to . 1
r rooms by the wife of Martin Secco.
" Barradas saw, perhaps, his danger,
d snid that I should sleep in the same
xn with him.
" But In * Secco tohl him roughly that a|
must be content to sleep alone. Then '?
J poor old man was ball-led and half*gged
away.?As for me, 1 was but a
y ; so they thrust me into a dark clos- 1,0
wheiu some straw lay on the floor, y1
d deainng me to sleep there and be g'
tiikful, left me. ol
** 1 lay down on tlie straw, and finding
wet, arose in horror, fearing that it was
khI , amino remained in the dark, pray- 11
I to our Lady of the Seven Sorrows,
d trembling and listening to the how- *
g of the storin for more than an hour, ol
en all the other sounds in that terrible ^
wad a died away.
441 was just beginning to doie, when n
ray of light streamed through the keyleofmv
door: I heard il onenerl. and tl
! Martin's wife, Inei Secco, apjienred,
tb a long and sharp cucliillo in her r>
nd. A man accompanied her. He t?
a Juan Ron de Anteqnera! Terror v;
.ralysed me; and alio believed me to
> asleep, for she felt all over my clothes s<
-that is, my poor shirt and breeches b
ckets, from which she took two quar- cl
r-duros-all I possessed in this world ; and b
en, passing the light thrice across my
re, to assure herself that 1 slept, the hag w
snt away muttering? li
M'Carati)bal only a half-duro; this o
lie wretch is neither worth lodging nor n
lling.' h
M Immediately after this, 1 heard them t<
liispering with Martin Secco; and then
ey knocked at the door of old Pedro r
srradas, who, like a cautious man, h
id fastened it on the inside. k
44' Get up,' said they, 'Senor 15 srradas
get up, you are wanted.' 8
" But old Barradas either slept like a ?
p, or he was too wary to open ; for ho ii
edod them not. I
"Then 1 heard Juan and Martin mut- *
ring curses as they delitteralely forced ?
ien the door; next there cams a terri- f,
a cry of? 0
M * Help ! Pcdrillo, help ! Ayuda por
nor de neustra, Senora Santissima P ?
"This was followed by sounds like t
ose ninde by a sheep when the knife
the carcinero is in its throet; end,in 11
e mean time, Martin's two daughters
we singing as lowd ss they could, and *
.ncing a bolero in the passage to con- t
al these terrible sounds, which froze ?
e blood within me." t
Here Pedrillo paused. ?
"Go on," said Jack Hall, impatient;
" and how did you escape T* s
" If the noble scnors would help me
refresh my memory?" t
A Ah, I comprehend," sa;d I, toesing a t
sets to him ; " now fire away, Pedrih
ft
W
"You should not encourage this young ?
caro. Sen or Cabarsllo," said the Spaa- "
rd, whose face was now darkened by a
terrible frown; for it is roy belief that
i was tbe mere decoy, who led poor 1
d Pedro Barred as to that rillsnoua t
rwada."
Instead of being angry, P*iriUo only ?
ted up his hands, and prayed that I
earen and ?*>r Lady of the Sereu 8or> t
ilu suspicions.
" I never closed my eye* tli.it nigli
n the morning I whs told by Inez tl
'atrona, that old Barrada* liad depar
d across the hills of Antequera withoi
le. Martin Secco asked ine how
ad slept? I said, like a dormou**
nd as soon as I was free, I raa lil
hare back to Malaga ; and to mat
p for the loss of my last night's res
lept like a torpedo under the trees <
le Alameda."
"You acquainted the magistrates?tl
Iguazils, of course," said Ilall, knockiii
le ashes from his third cigar.
"I was only a poor, ragged, little pici
replied Peerillo in wliinning voic(
and who would believe me ? besides ol
hi rr ad as was a stranger from Cordova <
aen ; and a man, more or less, is nothin
i Granada ; but since that time, Martin
so daughters have been sent to the ga
iys at Barcelona, by the Captain gen en
f the kingdon, for intriguing in man
aos with the contrabandistas of Jean.iow,
senors, the uoon is past; And if
lease you, 'ts time we were moving,
ou wish- to reach the Sierra."
While we were placing fresh caps o
jr rifles and preparing to start, the Spar
rd with the patch, who had listened t
edrilio's story with great impatience, the
sized that young gumin by the arm, an
rasping it like a vice, gave him a savag
sow I, and said something in Spanish
lit so rapidly, that I could only wake oc
iat he was reprehending him severely fu
liing us a a "succession of falsehoods."
l> I thought at that time; afterwards
as able to put a different constrnclio
!V>n Ilia -? -1 ' 1 1
r~ - ,.iv.igii.iiiun, WHICH i'curill
eined to be considerably alarmed.
Bidding adieu to bini and the contra
indicts, we departed tinder Pedrillo1
.lidance, and (sans Reave) shot all alon
10 aides ol the mountain range on th
ope of which stands thermal! but hi
cut city of Anteqiltta, so noted for th
ivavlt of the M<n>rs iu t!io sixteenth cot
^jr f *?*- J 8 - 1 -? ? ?-?'vs?| r.
.ling into those remarkable pits whor
le water settles in the low places, an
formed into salt by the mere heat t
' the sun.
We did not see much game hut kn?cl
I a few braces of bird*, and with the*
id two red foxes, our little guide l'edril
was quite laden. So he seemed to thinl
r taking advantage of the concealmen
forded him by the olive groves, and th
altered remnants of an abandoned vint
ml, among which we had been entar
led, the young rogue slipped away wit
ir game and made of, either toward
lalaga or Antequera ; at least we sa'
o more of him, or of his burden, at tin
ino.
This was just about the close of thedaj
hen Hall and I were draining our flas
f the last drop, and surveying from th
louutain slope, the magnificent prospei
f the verdent Vega,spreading at our fc?
ke a bright tinted map, having the wan
nd rosiate glow which well might win
le name of Terria Calienct. Malegi
te ancient bulwark of Spain against A
ca, was shining in the distance, with il
rwers and gates, flat roofed houses, an
Mt cathedrals; its Moorish castles an
fothic spires, all bathed in a warm an
inny yellow ; while Iwvond lay the broa
lue M editerrauean, dotted by sales, an
hanging from gold |to purple and t
lue.
This was all very fine but the pleasui
'as lessened by the conviction that ot
ttle rascal I'odsillo was absconding wit
ur gnme, ami we knew that it woul
ever do to relate th the gun-rooni mei
ow we had been out-w ilted, on returnin
9 the Blonde next day.
The foreground of this beautiful paw
ama was broken by innumerable sins
illocks and cluni|>s of woods of man
inds; hut principally olive, pine and coi
r;es that grew on the slope of the grei
lierra; and though the sky and lam
cape darkened fast after the sun set. v
istituied a sharp ami angry search f
'edrilln, sliauling and whistling as v
tumbled on, we knew nou eery w?
rhither, looking f??r our lost spoils?tv
9<es with gallant brushes, and eight bra.
f birds.
No moon had risen, tba wind began
rhistle among Ino groves and hollow
he night was very dark.
44 What, if we should happen to me
naatcr Juan of Antequftra," said 1.
"If we had our game, I should be vei
roll pleased," replied Hall; but I wit
hat I'edrillo had been with old scrstt
rhen we hired him yesterday. If I hi
he little lubber on Imard the Blonde,
rould show liiin the main top."
"Spain is a laud of mishaps and eventi
aid I.
" Belay: I see some one moving
bat hollow, let us jump down bek
here P'
"Hut we may lose the track," I urged
**True, so do you remain where you a
rhile I go down into the hollow. Hoi
tow and then, to let me know your wbei
ibouta."
With hie rifle in hi* hand, Hall, wl
raa a fine active fellow, aprang d-.wn i
o a ravine that suddenly yawned befc
ia, and I remained with my rifllo oock?
?d stooped low to watch what might f
ow. llall disappeareil in the obecuri
tolow, I halloed; hot the n>ght-wiad toi
. flaii *
t J . ?.. ..... ?
thought I heard his voice, and sprang afit.
terhim; but fell upon a point of rock,
le and sank, completely stunned, to the
t- earth.
lit There I lay for nearly a quarter of an
I hour, unable to move, or ral'v my senses,
a; When I arose, I found myself at t.bc botte
torn of the hollow, and upon a narrow
:e mule-track; the moon was rising brightit,
ly at the south end of the ravine, silver
of ing the masses of rock, tufts of laurel trees
and wild vines that grew in the clefts of
,e the basalt. I shouted, but received no
,g reply ; and after a long and fruitless search
could discover no trace of Hall in any dift.
rortion.
,. Considerably alarmed for his safety a*
d well as my own?for to lie at night upon (
>r those hills of Antequera, with the devillish (
g stories of Pedrillo and the contrabandistas
\ haunting one's momerv, anything but (
|. pleasant?I tried the charges of my rifle, ,
4| 1 looked again to the percussion caps, and ]
y set off in that direction where, by the ris
_ ing of the moon, I knew that Malaga ,
must lie; but frequently paused to hollo
if for Jack Hall, and received no reply save
the echoes of the rocks. ,
The ravine descended and grew more
open. Again I saw thu Vega sleeping at I ,
my feet in the haze; and, on turnin<r an I ,
~ angle of tlie road, found myself close to |
j an inn or taberna, wliioh I approached |
with joy, concluding that my friend Jack ,
must have gone that way, and would pro- J
* bably be there. ,
Like all Spanish inns, it was a large and (
misshapen edifice, the lower story of which i
j was nothing better than a great open J
shed, for mules and vehicles; and, ascend- i
ing from thence by a stair, I reached a
gallery, at the door of which I was recoiv- i
ed by the host, who carried in his hand a t
, stable-lantern.
"Entrar," said he, bowing profoundly ; |
^ "entrar, senor."
c "1 have been shooting on the moun1
tains," said I, "and have lost my eonipan- (
l<! ion, h British naval dfficer. lias he passed
this wav "
"Ao, senor, replied the turn, 1
j face I could not yet see,) jus he led me up f
. another stair. (
} "Then get supper prepared ; for he must {
soon be here, as I have no doubt lie knows
:* pretly well the direction of Malaga. A.>l
e now," said I, drawing a long breath, as I ,
seated myself, "w hat place is this t"
L5 'Let Posada del Cauullo." (!)
I "Eh! ah?and you/" I asked, in a j
e thick voice. f
H "Martin Secco, at your servieo, Senor
Cabal lero!"
'l llere was a denouement!
"G.kxI Heavens V thought T, mechani- ,
w cally resuming my rifle; "if the stories of i
II l'edrillo should be true."
1 scrutinized my host and hostess.
Martin had a broad and open visage, '
k with keen eyes, and a black beard as a i .
horse-brush ; a wide month, that frequent- 1
ly expanded in grins; but in those grins [
'1 no radiance evoi lit up his glassy eye.? j
n The mouth laughed; hut they remained
it immovable?invariably a bad sign. His J
*? forehead receded, and his ears were placed
'* high upon his head. At the first glance,
I concluded that my senor patron was an 8
^ unmitigated brute. His figure was some('
what jiorlly, and encased in a brown jack- (
et, brown kneobreeclies, and black stock- !
d mm < Ka It>.i.rt Itm ' ? ? 1
uv nui? Mio nail l^llllllicu, 111 il CilUI, '
and had a yellow sash round hi* waist. | 1
*> His wifo was, as l'odriho had described I
Inez Secco, a Basque, for her Spanish was '
ra almost unintelligible ; and her coarse black
ir hair was plaited in one thick tail, which 1
h reached to her heels. Her gown was of, '
Id rough red cloth, with tight sleeves and a !
ts short skirt, displaying a pair of yellow '
ig worsted stockings ami leather sandals, fas-1 1
tencd by thongs above the ankle. Her | '
o- face was coarse and bloated ; hut the ex- j '
ill presMon of her eye terrible. It hovered I j
iy between the bright ferocious glare of a ) 1
k snake, and the glazed orb of an arrant
st sot. She scanned me closely ; and I
ci- thought the old devil, (she was a Spanish
ve woman, and past forty,) was accurately
or appraising the value of all I had on.
re "Well, senora palrona," said 1. "what
ill can I have for sup|>er I"
to "The senor has come at a bad time, for
ee we have little or no provisions m our larder."
(The larder of every Spanish inn 1
to has been in the same condition since the
s; days of Cervantes and (Jongora.) "For
now this road between Malaga and A meet
OUera is but little fcnnenteil nft?r n?An. I
clay, owing to tlie terrible robberies and
ry thu four assassinationscommitted by Juan
4i Koa, during the last Salano. Cxrnmba!
:h 'tis very bard tbat we should suffer for
id him."
, I "What c in I have, then ?n
"A roasted galina, dressed with a few
i," l>ean*,M aaid the pa Iron a.
"And a glass of good aquadiente," adin
ded the host; "our Tierno baa soured in
>w the wine skins."
"Tis poor fc?ro: thi*, for hungry men.
I. 1 have aaid that I expect my frieno'a arrive
val momently."
Ho The boat gave a cold emile, and aaid,
re- "Wc have had nothing ourselves, for a
week past, but Indian corn and boiled garho
banzoe f beans;) but the beat we have is
n- at the disposal of the tenor crtballero."
ire Tlie inn wne old and rrasy ; the wind
id, came in at one cranny, and whittled out
ol- by another. The roof, walie and floor of
ty tlie large apartment in which we three
m- were tested, oootisted of a multitude of
ucnun huu uoarus, piaeeu Horizontally and 1
diagonally, without skill, and without ro- an.v
gard to design or appearance; for in me- an(l
chanics, tlie Spaniards are behind every so,n<
nation in civilized Europe. There was an^
but one candle in the house, (as the host iiwa'
assured me,) and it was rapidly fluttering acr'*
down in the currents of air. The patrona ''ghl
transferred it from the lantern to an iron
holder, and it was placed on the table to w''il
light the room and my supper. been
An ostler, or nondescript servant, wear- jroin
ing fustian knee-buckles, without braces, exi
with a muleteer's embroidered shirt, and ?r P'
having a yellow handkerchief tied round 11 *'
his head, spread a (not over-clean) cloth . ,
on the table; knives, forks and covers I1
were laid for two, with a cold fowl, a loaf
of white bread, a dish of beans, garlic and ^ 80
a bottle of aquadienle. .rel
I obserl>ed tlii-* wild-looking waiter fre- aso
ijucntly glancing ,?t my rifle, and the jew- J.l)ai
illed dirk that dangled at my waist-belt; ,r
[ became suspicions of everything.
' Yesterday we were wishing for an ad- .
rent n re 1" m
"Yon are well urmed. Benor " K?i<l li?? spots
"It is natural, fur arms are my profes- Cl!
no:.," said 1. 8tl
I looked at my watch; the hands indi. a
ted 11 o'clock! Two hours had elaps- J1!111
d since Hall and I had separated ; still 1,8 |
there was no appearance of him. Twenty
times I opened the shatters of the mi- an(li,
glazed windows, and listened intently hut
lie night-wind that swept down the dark *.Jn,i
-Rvine in the Sierra, brought neither shout .
ior footstep; ? ? I resolved to sup, go to 8 .
>ed, and trust to day-light for discovering Rm
lack, if lie did not arrive at the posada .
jefore morning. .
1 had just concluded supper, when the jn ,j
ast remains of the last candle in this soli- j ,
arv inn, sank into its iron socket and left wjujj
is in darkness?at least with no other ;
ight than the rod, wavering glow that
mine Irom the hearth, where a few roots j .
if pine and cork-wood sinouhlered-besides aboU
Jie brown puchero, in which the amiable Rru>,
patrona bad boiled the beans for my rc- j)0 |(
i"wt* - ered
*" ' ??v r*~ ? up()I1
laid Martin hecco "we have not another roco
:andle, were il to light a blessed alter; a0Q?
uid tne senor caballcro must go to bed in Q V
he dark."
"Heed not that, senor patron," said I; a ^
for I am a soldier, as you may see, and 0,|je|
ira u>ed to discomfort." j,er ,
"Tis well ; for I am sure that the senor gueu
ius experienced nothing but discomfort in q
>ur poor posada. When I am rich , ^
inougli, senor, I hope to have a liotel in
lie Alameda; and then should the cabali-ro
ever come to Malaga again, lie will re- .'
nember Martin Seeco." ?
_ , , , antic
At tins remark, 1 heard the patrona myst
liter a low, chuckling laugh ; but whether a|^j
it the prospect of the tine hotel, or the
loubtful clrmces of my ever again visit- man
ng Malaga, I could not say. "the
"Now, senor patron," said 1, rising, and ,
aking up my riile, "I should like to reach (jca'^
he town l>etimea to-morrow ; so show me
ny chaml?er, and should my friend arrive, *
ail not to call me." olutr
"Will you not leave your gnu here?"
mggested the liost. ?cj
"Thank you?no," said I, while my un- ronft
lefined suspicions grew stronger within t,j
ne. "Do you lead the way, senor, and W(Jj|
[ shall follow. Good night, senora pat- tjie ^
ono." u, ^
Hueno noslie, senor," said she, stiring up (iur|
he embers; and we separated.
Ti,e u^s.. ?k? .1
" o , jrci 1II.JW, nits Sicn
nost unpleasant part that I had yet ae- a5t;r
ed ; for I had to groj>e my way after him |r
ilong a dark passage, about forty feet erou
ong, at the end of which he ushered mo per,,
into a room, where there was no other tlieii
light than that given by the moon, which ? ]
dmne through a small window glazed asie<
with little panes of coarse glasses. Ilere kno<
he bade ine "Butno nocheand, after j,|ie
many apologies for my miserable aceom- ?
inflation, left me. whi:
The apartment was small. In one cor *]
ner sto?al a French bed, having light-col- \
orod curtains ; this, with a basin stand, two [ n
chairs, and a mirror, made up the turni- p|ie<
tore. Like a true soldier I turned to so- coul
cure the door. the i
Destitute of lock or bolt; it had only a one
small thumb-latch. otlie
Dismounting the ewer and basin, I and
placed the stand endwise between the bed Q,
and the d<K?r, firmly fixing it, and forming an(j
a barricade, which none could move without
awaking me. To make all sure, I wjtfc
again dropped the ramrod into each bar- ?i<je
re! of my rifle, passed a finger over the {|,e
caps, unbuckled the belt at which my dirk
dangled; hi).I, without undressing, for Ave- aU>
ry moment I expected to hear Jack llall
hallowing outside the house?in short, to the
he prepared for anything?I threw my- j,a||
self down on tie' coverlet, and weary and jjy
worn by a long day's ramble among the roai
mountains, prepared to sleep. j j,
For a long time, spee^es of painful froi
wakefulness possessed ute ; the moans of boy
the passing wind, the flappiny of a loose ter
board in the external gallery, the waver- the
ing shadows thrown by the moonlight on wet
the damp and diaoolored walls?even the bar
ticking of my watch disturbed ire, and <
kept me constantly thinking ?f poor Hall's eaa
unaccountable absence, wrth a fear that %rw
be might have* fallen into the hands of .Tn- of <
an of Anteque.a, and not a few reproaches tics
for my having, perhapa, too easily ml in- wet
quished my search for bitn. anr
0 ? ^
nese thoughts completely obliterate*!
sense of mj ow n immediate danger;
I was about to drop asleep, when,
^tiling moist,that oozed about tny neck
face, aroused me. I started?fully
kc in a moment; and passing's hand
ss my check, looked at it in the ntoon!*
. . *
lilood !" said I, springing off the bed,
e a thrill ran though me. I'had not
i wounded or cut by my fall ; then
i whence caine this terrible moisture?
amined the pillow, and found the lowart
of it <piite wet; I turned it, and le!
as saturated with blood I
his was the reason that Martin Seoco
declined to give me a candle My
-t beat thick and fast; apprehension
imcthing horrible came over me, and
numbered the stories of Pedrillo. 1 i
recollected that I had some excellent . . i
lish cigar fuses, and, tearing three or J
blank leaves from my note-book, 1 .
cd them together, lit them, sml ??*.
d the dingy chamber. The boards
unl of the bed were marked by recent
i of blood ; I raised the little triage or
tin, and guided bv some terrible in:t,
looked below, and saw?what?
oor Jack Hall, lying there in bis naval j
mn, with his epauletto toru off, and
hroat literally cut from ear to ear !
e had found his way hero before mo,
had been assassinated.
Imost paralysed, I continued for half
nute to gaze at this terrible spectacle,
he paper buiued down to my finders,
expired. I heard my heart heating ;
my head span round as I tightened
>elt and grasped my loaded rifle.?
re I could adopt any plan of opera,
I heard a rustling and whispering
e passage near my door; and, lookhrough
a crack in the pannels, saw,
in a yard of me, Martin Secco, bear11
one hand the rifle of ir.y poor friend
in the other a lighted candle, although
ad made to ine so many apologies,
it two hours before, for not having
her in the house. As he approached
anded it to a boy, in whom I discovPedrillo:
and then the 1)0*4,flashed
i two oilier men, in one ot wbotu i :nised
the ostler, and in the other, our
aintance of the noon, with the patch
is face, and wearing the green velvet
jt and sombrero. This worthy had
itol in one hand and a knife in the
r. The patroi.a was also there, with
wolfish eyes aud enormous Basqud
e.
itrage and a <sa*si nation were impress1
the hard lines of all their cruel and
;e visages; and 1 perceived at once
without a vigorous effort, I was lost
at my life was forfeited and all the
ipations of newspaper paragraphs, 4t&
erious disappearance" in the Times
Military Gazette, flashed upon my
I. I had youth, a noble profession*
y kind friends, my regiment and home
best expectations," as old dowagers #
on one hand; a horrible and sudden
h?a lonely scene of unknown butchon
the other !
locked the locks of my rifle, and really
removed the barricade frnm the
^ke time, Juan Rosa," said the patIold
your tongue, old perra; I know
enough what I am doing," growlod
personage in green, whom I now knew
) that torrible outlaw, who, since the
ist war, had laughed at the carabinemd
alguazils, and kept all Malaga, the
a de Mija, and the Vega of (irunada
and in terror.
icluding the patrona, and the treachs
young rascal Pedrillo, I had firedeste
enemies and only two bulleta at
r service.
Let us prove whether the Inglesse is *
sn before we enter," said the patron,
iking at the door gently, and placing
candle behind him.
Mo answer?he is certainly asleen."
? * " i '
pered the patrona.
Knock again," growled Juan Rosa.
. smart blow was then given ; but stilt
nade no reply. Then the patron apI,
his hand to the latch ; hut bofore ho
d open the door, I fired right through
slender panels, and shot him dead by
bullet, knocking over the ostler by the
>r, which he received .hrougli his neck
shoulder.
lubbing my rifie, I then rushed out;
charging thein in the smoke and oon>n,
dealt J uah Rosa a tremendous blow
i the butt end, which levelled him hetlie
two rulhauH who lay bleeding in
narrow passage. Escaping a pistol
t from Juan, but receiving two despercuts
from tbe termagant patrona and
waap Pedrillo, 1 reached the end of
pasaage, sprang through the common
I, and found the outer door fastened,
main strength I tore it open, and
chad lite external gxllerv, over which
roppe- , though il whs rully twelve feet
ii the ground; xuJ, jirt iui I did no, the
I'cJrillo tiioU u.io of Juan's pistolsefme;
btu I escaped it, and r*n down
mountain slope, loadin3 my rifle w 1
it, nod driving a bullet borne into encb
rel.
3my morning wm spreading along the
?, etui the red flo*h of tlie coining sun
1 brighUseiu} behind the dark towers
}ibr*|.Faro, nod sparkling on tbe I it
of Malaga. Tlie aromatic pUiiU
m putting forth their sweet eel perfume
I the liget foliage of the sugarcane, th ;
, /bf;