Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-04-15
From the Forget Me Not, of 1886.
A NIGHT NEAR MONTE vIDEo.
BY A Observation-Disclosures.

Inc incidents recorded IN the following narrative
are strictly true They related 10y a naval
ohcer lately deceased, and himself the hero Of the
story, which was drawn up by at his particular re-
quest.l-Ed. of +.
Il was in the year H., when the friQate
TO which belonged was stationed off Monte
Vidco, that the following events took place
| shall state them simply and without any
attempt at establishment, convinced that the
plain facts will speak for themselves, and
that they do not require to be heightened by
the aid of fancy
The Captain had given permission to
brother officer whom | shall denomnate
Brooks, and myself to enjoy few days sport
on shore. Taking advantage of this leave
we furnished ourselves each with iowling
piece and game bag, and sailed forth on
our expedition, intending to pass the night in
the city. and TO amuse ourselves in the same
way daily till the period Of our leave had
expired. Being both good shots. and falling
in with plenty of game. we filled our bags
in the course of few hours.
This unexpected luck suspended our ope.
rations, and, as the evening was fast coming
on, we felt the necessity of arriving at Monte
Video before we should be overtalen by
darkness-no pleasant event in a country to
especially as we had reason to believe that
they were infested during the night by the
handful Impressed with these feelings, we
made the best OF ouriway towards the city.
hoping to reach it by sunset In this coun-
try, lying as it does between the tropics,
there is lutte or no twilight. Darkness sue
ceeds almost instantly TO light When she
suns disc disappears he has done with us,
and in ten minutes there is as iilIe trace OF
his existence rs if he did not exist at all
While moving smartly along, under the
load of our bags and fowling pieces, the lat
ter OF which in case of danger. we took the
precaulion 20 keep charged, we met with a
tall, swarthy man, in the costume Of "a ser
geant He was strongly aud indeed hand
somely made, but his expression OF counte'
nance was peculiar and erocious. lie had
enormous black whiskers, long, sweeping
muslachos. and dark, penetrating, demon
looking eyes On meeting, he saluted us
with a civility rather at variance with his
forbidding air; and took the opportunity
of asking him, in Spanish, If we were on the
road to Monte Nideo. "Gentlemen." said
he, in the same language, Eat your present
rate of travelling, you will be there in an
hour and a half; but in the unsettled stat,
of the country, would caution you agains
going farther The sun will be down i'm
mediateIy. and the roads are not safe after
nightfall." We thanked him for his civiliy
but nevertheless proceeded on our way, while
he took the opposite direction
Scarcely, however, had we gone ten yards
when he called after US; and on turnlng
round TO see what he wanted, he asked |
we were French or English My compan
ion replied that we were English, when th'
mans countenance darkened; he looked
us sterny, then walked hastily on. 81 Dc
not half like that mans appearance SAID !
Nor do H. answered Brooks 'ihere i
something peculiarly forbidding about him.
No more was said We continued walking
half an hour longer, when the sun wen
down, leaving us in darkness. But the oh
scuritv though great, was not so strong a
altogether TO hide near objects; the mass.
I foliage of the trees, the outlines oil cattle
browsing upon the road side and the huts
which here and there loomed against tn
darkness. were more or less visible. W.
D held our way through the gloom quickly
/ but with caution, fearful OF no danger, VI
: keeping a look out in case of the worst, an
fully prepared to give any person who cour
! ed hostile meeting cordial reception ]
= the shape of volley OF small shot
In few minutes, the solemn silence {
1 the night was broken by the sound OF
n horses feet at some distance behind. w
4 paused and white horse flew past as, at
J. good and round pace, bearing two men upoo
r lis back. One Of them-him who rode !
/ 'front.' recognized as our old friend, IN
G sergeant. He had exchanged his cooke
G hat for foragng cap, and his long coat &c
q short Jacket; but this disguise did M
I conceal him from our observation. W
l. were good deal surprised at so rapid
: metamorphosis but without taking any pa
Q ticular notice of it, we went forward, and
about five minutes more came up to II
r horse and its riders The animal was no
'. walking slowly, as we passed 1t then as
|, touched by the whip or spur, 1t shot ahea
i. of us again, the swarthy rider in front app
at rently eyeing us steadily as he swept by
ID The whole business was exceedIng
a strange and communicated my Suspicion
in 10 Brooks that all was not right: he, hoy
ever, did not participate in them, and treat'
IS what had occurred as matter OF no lmpo
Il lance We continued moving on, and
i, second time came up to the horse which v
Id again found walking slowly, We passed
is and kept in advance for perhaps hlly yard
a when all at once it set of as before, at Il
ne galop, bounded past us--heayily laden as
rs was-like an arrow; and away it thunder'