Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-10-06

| were to return the answers previously
concerted; ifhe did not give ii, we
! were free to assume our proper caarac-
,ers. Immediately on entering the room
the expected signal was given.
Our commander commenced by tel
/ ling them who we were and whence We
came, when at the shrewd suggestion
of one Of the gang, we were taken a.
part and questioned separately. In the
assumed name and nation Of the YES
sci to which we protested to belong;
in her destination, her rig, the number
of her crew, and the name of her~con-.
nander, we all agreed. But we had
forgotten to concert the number and
description of her guns, and they We're
differently represented as many, with
large, and as few with small callbre.
This discrepancy betrayed US.
The fairy which cleaned from the
eyes of these wretcheS when ON true
character was discovered, babe us pre-
pare for the worst. While they earn
estly talked together, we silently reas-
semb!eI; AMI standing with our blc.zs
to the wall, determined TO sell our lives
as dearly as possible. The fear Of de-
lection had induced us to cat the but
toas from our coats, and remove every
vestige Of the uniform. But when they
ag in approached us, their fell purpose
visible in their countenances, our brave
little commander boldly declared TINT
we were part of the crew Of an Amerl-
can We ;sel -oI-war: that we had been
sent on duty, and that if they dare TO
modest US, they would be signify pan
i>liel. He proceeded to tellthe n that
the bearing and direction of their har-
Dor was now known, and that we had
an Overwhelming force in Matanzas,
ready to pounce upon them on the
slightest provocation. HID his tone
been srucnlent and submissive; had he
attempted to sue for, or ransom ouf
lives, we would have been murdered
on the spot. But his boldness startled,
and his threats Disconnected them
There was SO much probability "a what
he said we had SO frequently taken
signal vengeance on their lawless bands,
that while they thirsted for oar blood,
a few moments reflection convinced
them that they dare not shed it. Bat
they determined on what was almost as
bad. On the pretext that we were Co.
lumbar privateermen, they imprisoned
us in one ofthe huts, around which they
stationed an Inefficient guard. 1t WAS
dreadful to think, that although our
lives were perhaps eventually secure,
our friends were perishing, while we
could not make one further effort for
their preservation. In vain from the
j windows we offered the highest reward
for messenger to Matanzas. Seem
ingly Or really, they disbelieved our as
sertions, and ridiculed our promises
In despair, we gave up the attempt;
and sick at heart, hungry, thirsty and
exhausted, sunk upon the mud floor of
the cabin.
We had not laid long, however, and
before our nervous excitement had suf-
hciently subsidized to allow us to sleep,
when we We're aroused By the trampling
of horses without. We eagerly looked
out and beheld Spaniard mounted on
one horse and leading another, on
which sat young and rather hand
some female. He was merchant from
the interior, come to purchase from the
spoilers. They were passing by oul
: hut, before which number Of people
had collected, and stoppad to inquire
/ into the reason. To him, our comman.
!; der addressed himself; and by every
appeal to his interest and his feelings
endeavored to prevail upon him to sent
a note to Matanzas. But he too, a!
obdurate as those around, jeered ane
: derded US. Our commander then tur
: ned to the woman, and in the mos
2 thrilling tones, and with the mos
!; gushing eloquence to which Lever lis
: tened, portrayed the condition Of GU
} shipmates on the wreck, and besough
her by the love she bore to her husband
, her brother, or her child, to pity, ant
r to save them.
l. She was a woman! and, thanks b
: to God, she was mother too! He
5 humid eye, her throbbing breast, pro
: claimed his success. She wept, Sd
4 entreatel; and she prevailed! Divin
!, influence woman! never more need
s ell when, in the case Of humanity
5 was it ever denied' Once interested
J, the woman, true to the impulse Of he
), sex, pursued no halfway MEASURES
a Yielding to the entreaties Of his wife
: what he had scornfully denied to us
y the merchant not only agreed to OF
proposal, bat procured our liberation
S and a grateful repast Of coffee, oreat