Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-12-17
From Ain.wor,h's Magazine for Novem Der.
THE GUERlLLAS OF LEON.
By CHARLES ~. BRO

By CHARLES ~. BROOKS.
The spur las lanced his charger sides.
Away! away! tor life lie rdes.-The Ciaour.
''This leap through lame into the future
Sarlnnayulus
The regiment Of French Hussars 10
which Eugene Davernv was attached
was pursuing lis march far from the spot
where its brief bait had taken place,
when THAT young officer emerged, a'qnc,
from the forest forming the boundary Of
the principal road from the north of the
province OF Leon to Va'lad"lid. 1t was
towards the close Of u magnificent day,
early in the eventlul year which witness
ed the liberation Of the Peninsula from
the sway OF France, aud at the same time
Marmont was making The most desperate
efforts I. collect 4 force sufficient 10 save
Clndad Rodrigo from the grasp Of Wei.
lin2,on, whose iron hand was wrenchny
fortress after fortress from the possess
ion OF King Joseph. Daverney's regiment
had been suddenly ordered southward>,
and so l,as,y was It's progress. that ale
though, the relaxed discipline OF the
French armies, permitted, aud frequent
- sanctioned the Struggling OF parties o,
marauders all along the line Of! march,
for the purpose OF plumber, few upon the
present occasion dared To avail them
selves Of their liberty, SO far as To risk
for the chance OF p''agc, the probability
OF their being abandoned by their com
rades To tho terrible yengence o., the
Guerilas,- who hung upon the traces 81
the column, and found Oft RECURRING OPP
por,unl,e, Of avenging upon French
man The outrages and atrocities perpe.
tra,ed upon Spain by the so:iery OF
France. The disappearance Of Eugene
Dayerney, which took place where the
troops halted Tor their brief relrcshment,
had therefore excited "a much surprise
as regret; and although the peremptory
orders under which the regiment was hur.
rying on, precluded all delay, often ,hro'
the remainder OF the day did his CON.
radcs turn i'll their saddles and strain
their eyes along the winding road, OF
gaze into the thick woods around it. ia
the hope OF discovering the young officer
OH his return. But it was not urtil night
had nearly fallen that Eugene Daverny
dashed into the remembered road, though
unfortunately seven leagues behind his
regiment.
..D1ondieu!r' was his exclamation; 81
nm again at The place where we halted
and thought myself miles further. A
curse on these forest paths for their
strong family likeness! Ell Bien, we
shall see whether my spurs prove more
servicabse than my eyes,"
And suiling the action to the word. hi
struck the rowe!s deep, and galloped of
at full speed for the traces OF his com
rades.
..Now have I played the fool ono,
more,' soliloquized he; sand have, witt
great dex,crity and neatness, involve,
myself in a net out Of which very mucl
doubt my getting. FIRST, when | JOIN
the column, shall be severely rebuke
for lettering; next, shall ruin my horse
aud finally, my fear Of which consi 'er;,
bly, aIleviates my other approximations.
expect to be shot by some outlying que
ril!a before lean come up with the rank
at all. Three pleasant points for con
temptation
He drew rein us he reached the foo
OF a steep hill, over which the road wen
and up which he allowed his charger I
pace slowly. Looking 10 the summi'
tho young Frenclman thought he dis
cerned Il figure crouching, but wa,chin
him. Hi; first instinct was TO draw an
cock u pistol, aud to spur forwards Ill
horse started ut the stroke OF the s:ec
ana in all probability saved the rider
lite by the motion, tor flash from III
dark nook in which the figure ";
shrouded, followed by the report Of
carbinc, told Daverny tina. the suerill;
were around him. lie heard the erin
bullet whistle behind him, and lvellin
his own weapon, he f.ed. apparent
with fleet, for as ho dashed to the spu
II man was seen 10 stagger backward
among the forest trees, lii the shade
. which he was Instantly lost. The Frencl
man, aware that his safety was in tiigh
gave his horse the rein and shot a'ou
the now descending road with headiol
speed. A mile thus rapidly traverse
he began 10 nope lie had dls,unced h
enemies; bu! he continued to urge 10
ward his charger Il, full ga!lop, until
came to part oil the road where It ia
rowcd 10 The widtI, Of few feet only.
he animal seemed 10 hesitate at en,e
; ing the pass; but the fiery rider, w:
) spun. stroke. and voice forced him on
!, With an angry neigh the charger bou
ded forward, as ii 10 clear some unse
:, obstacle. aud tho. neg, moment dropp
: upon earth with the hidlous cry hor
u ullers only in his extreme agony.
u Daverny went down with his chargs
lie saw the taia article by which the ~
,nal had been sacrificed. Two long a
d sharp sytAo blades had been fixed i,
r the massive trunks OF two opposite ire,
. in >ucha position as that The ower bla
! would Come. in contact with tho legs
J an advancing horse, and the higher Q
l. would transtlx the rider. The noble q
g .nal on which Eugene rode had seen
) former obstacle, aud on leaping TO ave
il, had q second time saved his maste
lie, at the expense Of his own. He |
: wri.hing in the death-slrugglc, with
wide and deep cash in his ample bre'
aud glossy shoulder. from which tho Ii
i. blood was flowing in torrents.