The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-08-24

in silence along the unfrequented mountain
path and clambered like the chamois along
a yawning abyss. where afoaning torrent was
struggling against the overpowerng force of
winter. Lay hold Of my belt, whispered
the father, as though apprehensivc lest the
very air might overhear him, 'and hold fast
tbs not the most pleasant walk here The
girl trembled with cold and fear, and silent
ly followed her rough conductor. 'Stop!' he
cried all at once. do you hear nothing9
Were not those mems svoices'
No, father, it is the wind bowling through
the pines ii4
Stand still, then, and listen-that must be
footsteps. ! hear them quite plain
No, father, it is the ice bursting in the a.
byss, and the water dashing against the rocks.
The old man, wrapped in q gray surtout,
clapped his ear to the rock to listen, and
presently cried, Come on!' The path be-
came more difficult, and the rocks more abb
rupt.
Should any misfortune befall me tonight,
my dear GIRL said he, tell your mother she
must not give up the business; | have made
a profitable concern of it, and should not
die content if / believed it would drop with
my life. You are now old enough to lend a
hand; and when you have once taken the sa
crament, you will be able, should think, to
carry on the thing we'll enough
| He theu directed her lay down in small
cavern in the rock. You may cat your sup
per there, he exclaimed, 'for now we are
upon the frontier; and up yonder you would
ONLY be in my way. I'll whistle when come
back. When you hear that sign, look about
you and bestir yourself
! With these words he continued his ascent,
and the haf-frozen girl creft sobbing into
the snowy retreat to say Pater nostcr. At
dizzy depth below her the torrent roarcd
monotonously. and before berthe wind whirl-
ed the snow in eddies from the rocks. She
was alone in this dreary spot.
| After a while the appointed!sgnal was Civ
en- and she heard footsteps Her father came
with pack, which he dragged after him.
| Here said he, pull it in! it is but light.
you will have no difficulty. lis worth
good ronnd sum though
The pack was deposited in the cavern, and
the smuggler went back agan. The girl.
mean while, crouched beneath the pack
and rubbed her frozen limbs to warm and
keep herself awake. Some time again le-
lapsed; again whistle was given as before
and the father returned with another load.
| He bade hei take up the first, and go on be-
fore him.
Father, hear dogs barking--don't youP
No no, tits only the wheeling of my old
lungs
There again fancy hear something be-
hind u.s.
Go along, girl, and hold your tongue'
There is something moving behind us ia
ther, down yonder, don't you see?'
Good God! the sharpshooters we are
lost if we cannot reach the ravine!
I A dog then came up and threatened to seize
the man, when, clinging without other hope
of safety to the rock, he hurled his pack at
the animal, bowling, together with mass OF
snow, down the prccipicc. Give it me he
cried, taking the lighter load from the girl.
eraspine her hand firmly, and drawing her
with accelerated steps down the rocky path.
Fright deprived her of the use of her limbs
and he dragged her along like dead thing.
Destruction pressed closer and closer upon
their heels. Voices repeatedly cried Halt
No answer was returned, and the report OF
n niece was reverberated hundred fold
by the echoes of the mountains. The bal!
struck the rock and dropped at their feet.
sMcrcful God' calculated the girl, can
not go any farther. Leave me here, father;
they will not murder me-
But you will betray me, girl"
No. no. no, leave me here, and make your
escape
sYou will bctray me, and bring your father
TO the gailows. Come, come along!'
Filled with despair he raised her from the
ground. and wound with his two-fold bur-
then round ledge of rocks. 1t was to no
purpose. The sharp shooters appeared a
bove and below, and the anxiety Of the SNUG
glers increased every instant. The girl had
sunk down inanimate, and all the efforts OF
the affrighted father to rouse her were una
vaiing. Again was heard the cry OF Halt
again the balls whizzed past, and the min
isters of law kept approaching nearer and
nearer. Life or death depended on sin
gle moment. He bent over his child, and
caught her i'll his arms: SO help me God III
nv utmost need' he calculated aloud, and
threw her down the abyss. The body dash
ed against the projecting crags in the descent
and rolled into the torrent beneath.
The pursuers stood aghas: at the atrociou:
. deed, and overpowerel with horror, dropped
their weapons. the smuggler escaped will
: his pack, ar,i has since often visited tht
spot cii similar errand.
THE FIELD OF BRADDOCx.
From Recollections OF " Eashngton.
h DR.. James Craik, the early companion il