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

Of Tie pyrsnsos. 3 diasculi pasa, scarcely
kooEns except 70 unugglen and izard- huniers
uhose hazardous avocafions make them ae-
quamted with the mot hidder feceasea q these
rugged and picturesque mouniaina loEard
the close q the summer Of 1871. tbs daiIle was
occasionally traverssd 81 adhefeniu q he e.
Queon-Regeut Christina. entering SPAN &C.
croty and 10 small parties to be ready 70 lake
uhafo IL the abortivo attempt subsequently,
made TO replace the Feins ofgoyernmeni IN the
hands Of Fefdlnand's widow. Not q lev Car
kstl also. weary Of the noooionous inactive lie
thsy we're leading IN France, prepared 10 JON
tho projected insurFFscqou; and, leaving the
towns ID which 4 residence bad been Assumed
them, sought to gain tie Spanish side OF the
Pyreusas. where they might he purdus unii
the moment f1r active operation arrived sub.
aisling IN the meanwhile By brigandage and
othsF lawless means. Owing to the nsgli-
Rsnca, either accidental Or Intentional, Of the
French authorities, these adVenturers usually
found little difficulty 10 reaching the line oide.
narration between the two frontiers; bot i
WAS there their troubles began, and they had
70 take the greatest pracauiun 70 avoid falling
into The hands Of the Spanish carabinsr0s and
light troops posted along The frontier.
AmonR those who intended to take share
Ia the rebellion, Don lgnaeio Guerra occupied
. prominent place. Being well known to the
Spanish Government as a devoted adherent Of
Christina, il would have been IN vain FOR him
TO have attempted entering Spain BY one Of
the ordinary roads. Repairing 70 Orleron,
therefore, be. procured himself a guide. and one
fths small but sure-iooted horses Of the Pyre-
nees, and after a weafsome march among The
mountains, arrived about dusk At cottage, or
rather howell built ma ledge Of rock within hall
en- hours walk Of the Spanish frontier. Be
vond this sp5t the road was lmpractcable for
4 horse, and dangerous even for a pedestrian,
and DJn lgnaoio had arranged TO send back his
guide and horse and proceed on foot in which
manner, also, il was easier TO avoid falling in
with the Spanishltroops The night was fine,
and having had the road mmutely explained to
him by his pleasant guide, IgnaciO had no doubt
Of finding himself in few hours, at a village
where shelter and concealment were prepared
for him. Leaving the hoises in a sort ofshed
that afforded shelter to two or three pigs, The
Christine officer entered the hut, followed by
his guide and a SPLENDID wolf.dog, an old and
faithful companion Of his wanderings. Il was
some seconds, however, before their eyes got
atmosphere Of the place, 10 distinguish the OBJ
jecis il contained The smoke came from a
FIRE Of green wood, that was smoulderng under
an enormous chimney, aud over which de-
crepit cd woman was frying talloun or maize
meal-cake, in grease Of most suspicious odor.
The old lady was so intent on the preparation
@tlis delicacY, a iavorte food Of the Pytenean
mountaineefs; that il was with difficulty she
Eoui5 Be prevailed CPon to prepare something
more sub,t,atial for the Ssngry travellers -
Some smoked goats flesh and acis VINE were
at length obtained, and aitsss hasty meet 'g'
nacio paid his guide and resumed rs perllous
Journey The moon had not yet riseh--,he
night was dark.-the paths rugged anil difficult
and the troops on the alert: to avoid failing
inlwith an enemy, or down precipiee, so much
care and attention were necessary, that near.
y three hours had elapsed before lgnacio per
ceiyed that his dog had YET followed him from
the cottage. The animal had gone into the
stable and lain down beside his masters horse,
doubtless imagining, by that sort Of hali-reas.
ouing instinct which dogs possess, that, as
long as the horse was shefe, the rider would
not be far Of.
lgnacio's fret impulse, on discovering, the
extreme, and as he fell certain bis guide would
take care OF the dog, and that be should get it
at some future day, he resolved to pursue bis
Journey. Meantime the night became darker
aud darker-thick clouds had gathered, and
hung low--lhere was no longer the slightest
trace or indication Of path, aud the darkness
preventing him from finding certain landmarks
he had been told to observe. he was obliged to
hr- Il ~
aware no had lost bis way. To add to bis dr.
feullies, the low growlings Of dis ant thunder
were heard, and some large drops Of rain fell
A violent storm was evidently approaching
and lgnaeio qlckened bispace in hopes Of ind
ing some shelter before It came on, resolving
10 wait at all risks til daylight before eontinu-
ing his route, lest he should run, as it were,
blindiolded into the very myers he wished
10 avoid. A sort Of clii'or wall Of rock he bad
for some tine bad on bis left hand, now sudden
" ended, aud a scene burst on HE view which
% him was common. place enough, but would
have appeared somewhat strange 10 person
unaccustomed to such sights.
The mountain, which had been steep and
difficult to descend, now began 10 slope more
gradually as il approached nearer It's base. On
a sort Of shelving plateau Of great extent, a
number Of chaireoal-burners had established
themselves, and, as the most expeditions way
ofclearing the ground, bad set light in various
places to The brushwood and fruze that clothed
this part ofthe mountain. To prevent howev-
er, the cnnhagration from extending too far,
they previously, with their axes, cleared rings
Of several feet wide around the places to which
they had set fro. The bushes and lufze they
rooled up were thrown INTO the centre, and in
creased the blaze, In this manner the entire
mountain side, of which several hundred acres
were overlooked from the spot where lgnacio
stood, appeared dotted with brilliant fiery spots
OF some fiIiy feet in diameter, the more distant
ones assuming a 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 a erag that
almost overhung IL and that offered a sufficient
shelter ffom tie sain fghiel,-had begun to de-
scsnd in torrents. Throwing himself on the
ground, with bis ie5t toward tho flames, he en-
deavOred logel a little sleep, Of which be stood
in need. But It was in vain. The situation
in which be found himself suggested thoughts
that he was unable to drive away. Gradually
q sort Of phantasmagoria passed before bis
"mnd's eye, wherein the various events Of bis
lie, which, although short one, had not The
less been sadly eventful, were represented in
vivid eolors. He thought Of his childhood
spent IN the sunny vegas Of Andalusia-of the
companions ofhis military studies, highspirited
Tree hearted lads, Of whom some had achieved
H.H5INN 1. a