Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-03-18

ole. eSter0dy went 10 one OF Inc cdli-
ons to confess myself, and to receive absolu-
ton and benediction; not that | regard these
things much, but though. this would be the
best means Of broaching the matter, SO con-
fessed my self, and then spoke of my travels
to the canon. and at last told him of the irea.
sure. and proposed that if he assisted me we
should share il between us. Ow, wish you
had seen him: he entered at once into the affair,
and said i. might turn out very profitable
speculation: and he shook me by the hand, and
said that was an honest Swiss and good
Catholic. And then proposed that he should
take me into his house and keep me there ill
we had an opportunity of digging up the ,rca.
sure together. This he refused to do"
(But the canon's promised cooperation was
of little avail. short time afterwards, while
Mr.. Borrow was sitting in his large. scan,ily
furnished and remote room in an ancient ''po-
sada at Oviedo, formerly palace ofthe Counts
Of Santa Cruz" Benedict Mol turned up again,
and, as onr readers will have conjectured, not
yet in possession of his treasure. He had. in-
deed, fallen into trouble .-,nade a wretched
journey among the bello,as--.been half-siarved
at Mondonedo, in spite of the orthodoxy Of the
town and his own high pretensons as pilgrim.
and now. with much grief of heart. came to
the wise resolution Of leaving Spain for his
native Switzerland as soon as he could obtain
the means OF transport.)
"sA strange man is this Benedict, said An-
tonic TO me next morning, as accompanied by
a guide, we sailed forth from Oviedo; "a
strange man, mon maiire. is this same Bene.
dict. A strange life has he led, and a strange
death he will de.-.-it is written on his coun-
tenance. That he will leave Spain do not be-
leve, or il he leave it, it will be only TO return.
for he is bewitched about this treasure. Last
night he sent for sorciere, whom he consult
ed in my presence; and she told him that he
was doomed to possess il, bat that first Of all
he must cross water. She cautioned him like
wise against an enemy, which she supposes
must be the canon of Saint James. have Of
ten heard people speak of the avidiiy of the
Swiss for money, and here is proof Of il.
would not undergo what Benedict has suffered
in these last journeys Of his, to possess all the
treasures in Spain"
| In the last interview narrated by Mr.. Bor-
row, Benedict's hopes were wilder than ever;
he boosted Of support he had received in his
plans, made better appearance in his dress,
aud laughed to scorn our authors warnings.
to beware Of the Spaniards, if. once being
lnred TO partake of his hallucina,ion, they
should find themselves deceived:---)
ale went, and never saw him more...-
What heard, however, was extraordinary
enough. ltappeared that the government. had
listened 10 his tale, and had been so struck
with Beuedicts exaggerated description Tho
buried treasure, that ihey imugened that, by
IiiiIs trouble and outlay, gold and diamonds
might be dug up at Saint James Sufficient to
enrich themselves and pay of the national
deb, of Spain. The Swiss returned 10 Com.
pos.ela like duke to use his own words.
! The affair, which had at first been kept a pro-
found secret was speedily divulged. Ii was,
indeed, resolved that the investigation. which
involved consequences Of so much importance.
should take place in manner the most public
and Imposing. A solemn festival was draw.
ing nigh, and il was deemed expedient tina, lha
search should take place upon thai day. Tho
day arrived. All the bills in Composiella
pealed. The whole populace ihronged from
their houses; thousand troops were drawn up
IN The square; the expectation Of all was wound
up TO the highest pitch. A procession direct
ed lis course to the church of San Rogue; at
lis head was The captain-general aud the Swiss,
brandishng IN his hand the magic rattan; close
behind walked the migq, the Galepan witch.
wife, by whom the treasure. seeker had been
originally guided in the search: numerous ina.
sons brough. up the rear, Tearing implements
TO break up the ground. The procession en-
tiers The church; they pass through il in solemn
march; they find themselves in a vaultcd pas
sage. The Swiss looks around. dig here
said he suddenly. Yes, dig here said the
meiga The masons labor, the floor is broken
up.---a horrible and feiid odour arises. .....
Enough; no treasure was found, and my warn
ing TO the unfortunate Swiss turned out but too
prophetic. He was forthwith seized and flung
into the horrid prison of Saint James, amidst
the execraon of thousands, who would have
1 gladly torn him limb from limb. The affair
did not terminate here. The political oppo.
nents OF the government did not allow SO ia
vorable an opportunity 10 escape for launching
the shafts Of ridicule. The Moderados were
,aunied in the Cortes for their avarice and ere.
duliiy, whilst the liberal press waited on its
wings through Spain the story Of the treasure.
hunt at Saint James. AFTER all il was tram.
pu Of Don Jorge's,' said one of nv eaemies.
That fellow is at the bottom OF half the plea
dias which happen in Spain. Eager to
learn the fate Of the Swiss. | wrote TO nv old
friend Roy Romero, at Compos,ella. In this
answer he states: Il saw the Swiss in prison,
10 which place he sent for me. craving nv as.
slsiance, for the sake Of the friendship which
l bore to you.---Bu, how could help himl He
was speedily after removed from Saint James,
knew not whittier. IL is said that he dlsap.
peared on the road Truth is sometimes siran.
ger than fiction. Where in the whole cvcls
/ Of romance shall we find any ihiag more wild.
groiesque, and sad, than the easily au,hen,ica.
ted history Of Benedict Mol, the ueasure-dip.
ger Of Sain, Jsmesi''
Here is better Christmas tale than any
Z L.