Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-13

instantly CiOSeu Ups anu oruCtCu " oe""u "
arms--but the order had been scarcely given,
before shower of shot was poured in upon
the position. Some men were knocked down
close to the Colonel, and among them the old
guide. De Talmont was proyerbially brave,
and cared nothing about giving or taking dealh;'
but he had humanity about him still, and ne
stopped down TO give the dying man draught
Divine out Of his canteen. The peasant swal-
lowed it with difficulty, and dropped back on
the ground with deep groan. The hiring mad
suddenly ceased, or was kept up only by the
French aankers, who sent out random Shot
now and then, without, however, knowing on
which side the assailants were TO be found The
word was again given TO move, and the solumn
began to pass down the sharp declivity above
the village of Idra: but this decivity is seven
hundred feet by the pumb-line; and 1t may be
! imagined that, in utter darkness, 1t was not the
easiest path in the world for drenched and
harrassed party Of foreigners. They had not
descended half hundred feet when rifle flash
ed full in the Colonels face; and this signal
was followed by a rapid running fire, that SEEM
cd TO circle the whole valley The column fee
bly attempted to recover the high ground, but
the balls came in showers from the ridge; to
make their way down to the village was as
|
themselves down the scraped precpice, where
none but dead man could ever reach the bot
tom; to stand where they were was impossible,
| for the bullets were raking their exposed col
umn in all directions
! The Colonel had now found out his error, and
with few desperate men made a rush to the
summit, the fire gradually paused on both sides
! from the cxces i've darkness, and he made good
| r. h hnn Ippt n a
bove fifty could be gathered round him-the
rest had been either shot.or scattered through
the forest. With that fifty, however, he made
bold stand, and the firing began to be vivid a
gain, when he felt himself suddenly grasped by
the neck. The grasp was that Of a giant; and
he was in a moment dragged away among the
| rocks. unlil, between exhaustion and surprise,
he tainted.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself
| in hut with two or three long-bearded Wild
looking figures, warming themselves over
stove Beside the bed on which he lay, there
was sitting handsome, athletic young man, In
the uniform of Wager; the colonel thought
that he had seen the face before, and inquired
into whose hands he had fallen.
"Better hands than Frenchman's,' was the
rough answer for if we had fallen into theirs,
the freehunters Of Carniola.'
"And who are you?" said the prisoner.
"Me! why, am all things in turn said the
wager, laughing Yesterday | was grave
citizen Of Laybach, attending the order of Col.
de Talmont to shoulder my musket and mount
guard in honor Of Napoleon; this morning
am the King of the mountains. wish you JOY
at your arrival in my dominions, Colonel -
howl a
nights work? wonder you did not shoot me
at once-if had known you, it would have
gone hard with your Kingship."
spared for the sake Of little piece OF service
that you did to friend Of NINE
The Wager started up, and throwing cloak
over his shoulders, came forward lettering to-
wards the bed
"Ah, by Jove, our old guide-that internal old
rogue; suspected him once or twice, but the
rascal seemed SO deere pid, there was no use in
killing him; pistol-shot would have scarcely
hurried him out Of the world. Yes, could have
sworn thar he was MORALLY wounded by the
first fire. All ruse, them"
"Al,'' said the wager sail was fictitious, but
the generosity OF Colonel de Talmont, that
would not let even an old peasant SO to the 9th
err world without cup of wine. was the old
peasant: had gone into the city to see what
you we're about. threw myself in the way OF
your patrol, Colonel, and became your guide.
had intended, as soon asI had brought you
thoroughly into mischief, TO make my escape,
and take the command of my mountaineers But
YOU watched me TOO well had then nothing
for it, but to pretend to be wounded in the first
fire. The manGuvre succeeded tolerably well;
5ut, upon my honor, when caught glimpse
of you, turning round 20 examine me, expect
ed to have found the business settled by the
point of your sabre. / was agreeably dlsap-
pointed by finding your canteeh at my mouth,
and from that moment wished to be OF what
service could to you. On your advance Twas
free. and you know the rest. The flashing OF
the rifles showed me where you stood; and as
the only chance of saving you, | took the liber-
ty of making dash at your neck; it was no
time for ceremony, and | was lucky enough in
carving you off without being touched myself.
This is my palace, Colonel, and here you maS
command"
"And who the devil are you, after all?'' said
the Colonel.
"Mystery is a source of the sublime" an
swered the wager "That must remain a Sc
cret till better times