The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-07-20

!, was dark and gloomy % q winters night, and
through the darkness was seen grave stone,
shadowv AMI sntsesrs. and f1sn still Y1bng.
but with 1ieart 6fhthed and hd6ap big .eds "
| ing proslrato ha.Nb e, hin bfaaat heakla8 with
convulsive o0bs "a agony, go &c langih ne
rose and moved Y away, q bac0uin % ex-
| he and wandered II ! foreign land.
Maddened hV these reflections, lgnaeio star
| ted 10 his feet, and was about to rush out into
the storm, and fly be knew not whittier, from
his own Thoughts, when he suddenly became
aware Of the presence Of q man within few
yards Of him. The projecting crag, under
which he had sought shelter, extended all
along one side of the FIRE. In one corner an
angle of the rock threw q deep shadow, in
which lgnacio now stood, and was thus ena-
bled, without being seen himself, to observe
the new conner who seated himself on block
Of stone close TO the fire. As he did so, the
fame which had been deadened by the rain,
again burned up brightly, and threw strong
| light on the features of the stranger. They
were those of El S1ngradOr.
With stealthy pace, and trembling at every
step, lest his pray should take the alarm, and
even yet escape him, Ignacio stole toward his
mortal foe. The noise of the storm, that still
ragged furiously, enabled him to get within five
PAGES of him without being heard. He then
halted, and silently cooking pistol, remained
| for some time motionlass as statue. Now
that his revenge was in his grasp, he hesitated
to take it, not from any relenting weakness, but
because the speedy death it was in his power
to give, appeared an inadequate Punishment
paItry vengeance. Had he seen his enemy
torn BY wild horses, or broken on the heel,
his burning thirst for revenge would hardly
have been slaked; and an easy, painless death
by knife or bullet, he looked upon as boon
rather than punishment. An end was put
to his hesitation by the Carlist himself, who,
either tormented by an evil conscience, or OPP
pressed by one of those unaccountable and
mysterious presentiments that sometimes warn
US of impending danger, became restless, cast
uneasy glances about him, and at last. turning
round, found himself face to face with Ignaco.
Almost before he recognized him. hand was
on his collar, and the muzzle of pistol cram
med into his ear. The click of the lock was
heard, but no discharge ensued. The rain had
danped the powder. Before Ignacio could
draw his other pistol, the Carlist grappled him
iercely, and terrible struggle commenced
Their feet soon slipped upon the wet rock, and
they fell, still grasping each others Threats,
foaming with rage, hate, and desperation.--
The fire, now nearly out. afforded little light
for the contest, but as they rolled over the
smouldering embers, clouds of sparks arose,
their clothes and hair were burned, and their
faces scorched by the heat. The Carlist was
unarmed, save with clasp-knife, which, being
in his pocket, was useless to him for had he
ventured to remove one hand from the strug-
gle even for moment, he would have given
his antagonist a fatal advantage. At length
the contest seemed about TO terminate in favor
of Ignacio. He got his enemy under, and
knelt upon his breast, while~with charred,
hsl lEburned branch which he found at hand, he
dealt furious blows upon his head. Half blind-
al ~ the smoke and heat, and by his own
blood. the ARTIST fe.:. the sickness of death
coming over him. By last effort ne slipped
one hanc, which Was new at lber,s nn'o ms
pocket, and Immediately Withdrawing 1t, ra..@ ecu
{ to his mouth. His teeth grated upon the
blade of the knife as he opened If, and the next
Instant Ignacio, with lorg deep sob, rolled
,ver among the ashes. The Carlist rose pain
ully and with difficulty into sitting posture,
md with grim smile gazed upon his enemy. |
whose eyes were glazing, and tea lures settling |
nto the rigidity of death. But the conquerer's |
rumph was ehorf-kved. A deep bark was
leard, and moment afterwards a wolfdog |
lrenched with mud and rain, leaped into the |
middle of the embers. lacing his black muz- |
lie on Tgnacio's face, he gave long deep howl, |
ucceeded by a growl Ike that of lion, as he |
prang upon the Cariist.
The morning after the storm, when the |
harcoal burners returned 10 their fires, they |
ound two dead bodies amid the ashes. One |
# them had stab in his breast, which had |
.aused his death. The other was frightfully |
and bore mar ks of the fangs Of some
avage animal. In thai wild district, the skir-
nishing ground of smugglers and douanierS,
he mounl aneers think little ofsuch occurren-
ces. A hole was dug, the bodies thrown into
I; and cross, rudely cut upon the rock, alone
marks the spot where the midnight conflict
ook place.