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

lopen, and, after moments haIt "a the ehad
r; OF the lattice porticos sprang forward with
light and nolseless step, and in three or fcu
~ bounds foand himself under one ofthe larc
= chestnut trees that stood on either side Of n
- fountain. Keeping within the black eEado1
- tnrown ny the branches, he cast keen an
u searching glance over the garden and shrub
- o9ries' now partially lighted up by the moon
a Notnlng was moving either in the garden, or a
= lar as ne could see into the adjacent country
!: He was about to return to the bonse. when .
!. blow on the back of the head stretched hin
stunned upon the ground. In an instant slip
e knot was drawn tight round his wrists. and hi
person securely pinioned by strong cord Il
= the tree under which he had been standing
: a cloth was crammed into his mouth to preve1
i ms Calling out, and the three men who had
= thus rapidly and dexterously effected his cap.
! ture, darted off in the direction OF the house
! Desperate were the efforts made by Don lg.
naclo to free himself from his bonds, and his
struggles became almost frantic, when the
sound of scuff1e in the house, followed by the
piercing shrleks of women,reached his ears. He
succeeded in getting rid ofthe handkerch ei
that gagged him, but the rope with which his
arms were bound, and that afterwards had been
twlned round his body and the tree, withstoo6
his utmost efforts. In vain did he throw him.
self forward with all his strength, striking his
feet furlously against the trunk Of the tree, ami
writing his arms TIL the sharp cord cut into
the very sIneW. The rope appeared rather
frightened than slackened by his violence. The
screams and noise in the house continued: he
was sufficiently near to hear the hoarse voices
and obscene oaths of the banditti-thc prayers
for mercy of their victims. At length the
shrieks became less frequent AMI fainter, and
at last died away entirely.
Two hours had elapsed since Ignacio had
been made prisoner-hours that to him ap-
peared centuries. Exhausted by the violence
OF his exertions and still more by the mental
agony he had endured, his head fell forward on
his breast, cold sweat stood upon his forehead
| and had 1t not been for the cords which held
him up, he would have fallen to the ground.
he was reused from this state of exhaustion
and despair by the noise of approaching foo.
steps, and by the arrival of dozen men, three
or four of whom carried torches. They were
dressed in the sort of half uniform worn by tho
Carlst UOEGntes, or irregular troops; ronnd their
waists were leathern belts filled with cartridges
and supporting bayonets and long knives. in
many instances without sheaths. Ignacio OBJ
served with shudder that several of the ruff.
ans had their hands and weapons stained with
blood.
"Whon have we here?" exclaimed sallow,
evil vsaged fellow, who wore pair of tarnish.
ed ePaulets. "Is this the negro you secured at
the beginning of the affair o.
One of the men nodded assent, and The chief
Danoit, taking torch, passed it before the face
OF the captive officer. .. .s..t-,.
"Un nailitor - exclaimed he, observing the
-e--~-s---e =. --a.JI --~ -.~Pt1SS q TIsfe OH
one side, and looked to the coat-cuf for the usu-
al sign of grade.
.s1sniente corOnez'" cried he, on seeing the
double stripe.
A man stepped forward, and Ignacio, who
knew that death was the bet he had to expect
at the hands of these ruffians, and was observ-
ing their proceedings in stern silence, immedl
ateIy recognized deserter from his battalion.
'''Tis the Colonel Ignacio Guerra said the
man; "he commands the first battalion OF the
Toledo regiment"
An exclamation of surprise and pleasure
burst from the Carlists on hearing the name Of
an officer and battalion well known and justly
dreaded among the adherents ofthe Pretender.
Their leader again threw the light OF the torch
on the features of the Christine, and gazed at
him for the space of minute with an express
sion of cruel triumph.
t.Ha =" exclaimed he. eel CorOnel GuerG
He is worth taking to headquarters"
ave shall have enough TO do to get away
ourselves. laden as we ART" eald one the men,
pointing to a number of large packages OF
Dlunder lying on the grass hard by. "Who Is
-
one"
A murmur among the brigands approved
this mutinous speech.
| @Cuctro tiros,' suggested voice.
ayes" said the leader, "to bring down the
enemy's pickets upon us. They are not a
quarter of league of Pedro. lend me your
knife We will see," he added with a cruel
grin, show the gallant colonel will look crop
ped. .tf ~
A knife. blade glanced for moment in the
| torchlIght as it was passed round the head OF
1TDnsa chicos p said the savage, as he
threw the ears of the unhappy Iguacio among
lis men. A ferocIous laugh from the banditti
welcomed this act ofbarbarous cruelty.
The leader eheathed the knife twice in his
victims breast before restoring it to its owner;
and the Carhsts, snatching up their booty, dis
appeared in the direction OF the mountains.
AT Saybreak the following morning, some
4 peasants going to their labor in the helds saw
the BODY of the unfortunate officer Of i'll fastened
to the tree. They unbound him, and perceIv-
4 inc some si0ns of life, carried him into Logro-
mo. where they gave the alarm. "A drtach-
Z ment was Immediately sent out TO the Retro,
4 hut il was too late to pursue the assasslns ano
all that could be done vas TO bring IN the bod
les of Don Torribio, his daughter, and nice,
; who were lying dead in the supper-room. Al
old groom ana Two COtt ANS SsA-I ~
, the same fave; the horses had been taken out
of the stable. and the house ransacked of every.
:, thing valuable. -. a4f oil
I For scyeralweeks lgnacio Guerra remained
4 wayerino, as It were. between life and death
! At length he recovered; but bic health was .
: much impaired, that the surgeons forbade on
{ again encounterlng the. the fatlgues OF cam
: pairn. Enfeebled in body, heaftbroken at tn
: horrible fate Of Gertrudis. and 1Orcseeing th'
: sneedy termination Of The war. consequent Of
g the concluded treaty of Bergara. be threw NJ
9 fis commission, and lel Spain to seek forget
. fulness Of his ,gnisfortnneh in foreign travel
p In all French towns Ufany consequence. an
d IN any whose size and population would Al
most class them under the denomination {
g villages, there Is some favorite spot serving
u an evening lounge for the inhabitants. whIEhs
?; on SUNDAYS and fete-days especially, the bells
e and elecaslts of the place resort, to critics
D each other's toilet. an parade Up and down
q walk varying from one to two or three hundr.
g yards IN extent.