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


rugged and picturesque mountains. 1oWafn
Che close Of the summer Of ISL this deklle was
occasionally traversed " adhsfents 81 the Ca
Queen Regent Christina. entering SPAN Sc
crUtly and IN small parties to DC ready to take
share n the abortlve attempt subsequently
made 60 replace the reins ofgovernment IN the
hands cf Ferdlnandss widow. Not d lew Car.
9hsy were leading ID France. prepared 10 join
the protected ingurrfecgious and, leaving the
towns ia which residence had been assigned
them, sought to gain the Spanish side OF the
Pyreneas, where they might lie Pardas until
the moment for active operation arrived, sub
aistinR in the meanwhile By brigandage and
other lawless means. Owing to the negii-
renee, either accidental or intentional, OF the
French authorities these adventurers usually
found little difficulty il reaching the line ofde.
marcation between the two frontiers; bat It
was there their troubles began, and they had
60 take the greatest precautl0n to avoid fallng
into the hands Of the Spanish c1r0binsrOs and
light troops posted along the frontier.
Among those who intended to take share
in the rebellion, Don Ignacio Guerra occupied
q prominent place Being well known to the
Spanish Government as devoted adherent OF
Christina, il would have been in vain for him
TO have attempted entering Spain by one o!
the ordinary roads. Repairing TO OrleroD,
therefore, he procured himself guide. and one
of the small but sure-footed horses of the Pyre-
nees. and after wearisome march among the
mountains, arrived about dusk at cottage, or
rather howell built on ledge of rock within bali
an hours walk of the Spanish frontier. Be-
youd this spot the road was impracticable for
horse, and dangerous even for pedestrian,
and DON lgnacio had arranged to send back his
guide and horse and proceed on foot in which
manner, also, it was easier to avoid falling IN
with the Spanishetroops. The night was tine,
and having had the road mInutely explained to
him by his pleasant guide, Ignacio had no doubt
Of finding himself, in few hours, at village
where shelter and concealment were prepared
for him. Leaving the holses in sort of shed
that afforded shelter to two or three pigs, the
Christine officer entered the hut, followed by
his guide and SPLENDID wolf-dog, an old and
faithful companion of his wanderings. 1t was
some seconds. however, before their eyes got
sufficiently accustomed to the dark AMI smoky
atmosphere of the place, to distinguish the OBJ
iects it contained. The smoke came from a
fire of green wood, that was smouldering under |
an enormous chimney, and over which a de- |
crepit cd woman was frying tG1Ioun or maize |
meal-cake, in grease of a most suspicious odor. |
The old lady was so intent on the preparation |
Al this Aelicacy, favorite food OF the Pyrenean
that it was with difficulty she
.o,i6 be prevailed G.non to prepare something
more substa;..ta for the i1s@.ngry travellers
Some smoked goats flesh and acid wine were
At length obtained, and, afres hasty mect Ig-
1acio paid his guide and resumed rs Perlious
Quincy. The moon had not yet risen--she
right was dark--the paths rugged and difficult,
md the troops on the alert: to avoid failing
niwith an enemy. or down precipice, so much
ARE and attention were necessary, that near.
y three hours had elapsed before Ignacio per-
eiyed that his dog had yet followed him from
he cottage. The animal had gone into the ,
table and lain down beside his masters horse,
onStless imagining, by that sort of halt-reas-
ming instinct which dogs possess, that, ss 3
,ng as the horse was shere, the rider would I
ct be far of.
lgnacio's frst impulse, on discovering, the .
bsceace of his fouF-footed companion, was to /,
eturn to the cottage;but the risk in 50 doing was
xtreme, and as he felt certain his guide would !
axe care OF the dog. and that he should get it ;
{ some future day, he resolved to pursue his :
quincy. Meantime the night became darker =
nd darker-thick clouds had gathered, and
ung low-there was no longer the slightest
race or indication of path and the darkness
reventing him from finding certain landmarks s
e had been told to observe, he was obliged to :
1alk on nearly at hazard, and soon became :
ware he had lost his way. To add to his diff !
culIies, the low growlngs Of dis ant thunder :.
1ere heard, and some large drops of rain fell. :
violent storm was evidently approaching, .
nd Ignacio quickened hispace in hopes of find
pg some shelter before it came on, resolving ;
0 wait at all risks till daylight before continu-
ng his route, lest he should run, as it were, +.
'lindfolded into the very myers he wished
0 avoid. A sort of cliff or wall of rock he had
Or some time had on bis left hand. now sud dem
y ended, and scene burst on his view which
o him was commonplace enough, but would
ave appeared somewhat strange TO person
to such sights.
The mountain, which had been steep and
difficult to descend, now began to slope more
gradually as it approached nearer its base. On
| sort of shelving plateau of great extent,
aumber OF chalrcoal-burners had established I
themselves, and, as the most expeditions way 1
1f clearing the ground, had set light in various
places to the brushwood and fruze that clothed
his part OF the mountain. To prevent hoWev-
r., the cnndagration from extending too far,
hey previously, with their axes, cleared rings
Of several feet wide around the places to which
they had set fire. The bushes and flrze they !;
rooted up were thrown into the centre, and in
creased the blaze, In this manner the entire
mountain side, of which several hundred acres
we're overlooked from the spot where Ignacio
stood, appeared dotted with brilliant fiery spots
of some dIty feet diameter. the more distant !
1nes assuming lurid blood-red look, seen
through the fog and mist that had now gathered
over the mountain. lgnacio approached the
nearest OF the fires. lighted close to crag that
almost overhung it, and that offered sufficient
'helter e ON Tire rain had begun to de-
'cend in torrents. Throwing himself on the t
ground, with bis feet toward the flames, he en-.
leavored get 4 little sleep. Of which he stood
N need. But it was IN vain. The situation
n which he found himself suggested thoughts 4
hat he was unable to drive away. Gradually '
sort Of phantasmagoria passed before bis :
.mInd's eye" wherein the various events of bis !.
life, which. although short one, had not the
ess been sadly eyentful. were represented in 9
ivid colors. He thought of his childhood f
pent in the sunny UsgGs of Andalusia-of Inc
ofhis military studies, highspirited,
rec hearted lads, of whom some had achieved /.
onors and fame, but by far the greater part d
ad died on the battle-feId-the smoke of the Il
lycuac fire, the merry laugh of the insOucsont
oldaer-the din and excitement Of the fight :
ne emulation Of victory, and the weIi-won
ND mighty reiIshed pleasures of the garrison a
Off