Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-09-29
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1872.

nostrlls were like trumpet mouths. He
struck his fore hoois boldly shoreward.
A wave larger than its fellows, picked
him up and threw him upoa the sands.
A child was bound upon his back-a boy.
The boy was dead.
At early morning Of the following day,
crowd of men and women gathered up
on the beach to discover If the body Of
Francesca had been washed on Shore
Many eyes, too, were turned seward, TO
discern whether the hull Of the stranger
still foaled. The bay, os far as sight
could reach, was food of gold. The
sands of the shore shone under the sun Of
cloudless sky. But neither the vessel.
nor the body of francesca, was anyw here
visible. Not ves,Ige of the former had
drlited TO the land and, except the boy,
and the horse upon which he had been
bound, nothing from her deck had appa.
rently passed the reef and the islets.
III she broke on the reef, she drilled
TO San Antono's point, said the white
fisherman.
The Lady Roxanna was among the
crowd, and her grief was poignant. Fran.
cesco had been very dear TO her. turn.
I'd away from the spectacle OF a sorrow
in which was too hardened 20 sympa-
lhise keenly, and, on again looking to-
wards the sea, saw for the first time,
crowd of vultures, assembled in the air
above one Of the numerous sandy islets
with which the reef was studded. The
birds were wheeling heavily and silently.
Their gyratons were of ANAL diameter;
and, at length, one, with hosrse croak,
sank spiraly, narrowing the circle OF
his soar IS he descended, and finally
alighted. All eyes were turned TO the
spot. Another and another of the lilo
mened flock followed the leader, and
with a similar croak, settled down by his
side. After a while, the whole troop
again mounted into the air. and renewed
their CIRCULAR fight. | entered a boat.
and with an oaisman or two, pushed of
IN the direction of the islet. The waters
were still tawny, but as smooth as the
bresst of the serenest fountain. The
boat snot over them, and in a few mo.
men,s we landed. Between the spot
where stood and the farther edge of the
sand-bsnk-the i.let was scarcely more
"A heap Of wet weed aud scum had
gathered and it was not until had
placed my foot upon this, that | saw the
Object which had been a lure to the
carrion birds. Half buried in weed
and filth, lay human body. 1t was
that of the Inflated francesca. He was
lying with his forehead turned to the
sand, and his head was almost covered
With the sediment Of the settling waters.
turned him over-his face was bloated
and bleached; there was cash upon
his left cheek, and the flesh about ii had
become white and faced. HIS bright
locks were dull with the scum Of the sea-
The death ofihe youth Francesca, and
the solemn burial awarded to his remains,
inspired me with gloom which, perhaps,
proved the must durable Of my life. 1t
vanquished me SO thoroughly, that my
assurance, and my obsinacy as well
gave up the siege on which they were
bent, and retired from before the indom
table Lady relinqulshing en-
tirely the outworks which they had won
and maintained with haIdihood. Since
the breaking up of my encampment, |
have swept the all beautiful bay of blue
Quiola many time and Oft !; but | never