Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-22

on the coast, and pointed out the MARQUIS as
man engaged in correspondence with the
cabinet of London. Sc that, notwithstand-
ing all the hospilabc welcome with which
the latter had received Victor Marchand and
his soldiers, the young officer kept himself
vigilantly on his guard.
While directing his steps towards that ter
race, to which he went for the purpose OF
observing the state of the town and the
country intrusted TO his supervision, he had
mediated on the problem how he ought TO
interpret the friendship which the Marquis
had never ceased to manifest towards him,
and how to reconcile the tranquility Of the
country with the anxicties of his general;
but, for the last few minutes, all these
thoughts had been driven from the mind of
the young commandant, by IA feeling of pru
dental caution and by very legitimate Gu
riosity.
He had Just observed considerable num-
Der of lights in the town. Now, notwih-
! standing it was the festival of 81. James, he
had that very morning commanded that eve
ry fire should be extinguished at the usual
hour prescribed by his general regu!alions.-
The castle alone had been exempted from
that order. lie could perceive, indeed, here
and there, the CLEAN of his sentres' bavo-
nets at their accustomed posts: but there
was solemn in the silence that prevailed, and
nothing announced that the Spaniards were
plunged in the intoxicalion of ii festival.
After seeking in vain TO explain this gen.
eral violation of his orders on the part of,he
inhabitants, the offence seemed TO him the
more strangely mysterious as he reflected
that he had intrusted to some officers the
charge of the police and the rounds of the
night. With the impctuosty Of youth he
was about to leap down by the breach in the
terrace, 10 effect more rapidly the descent Of
the rocks, and the sooner roach a little post of
| the guard which was stationed at the entrance
of the Town, on the SIDE next the castle, when
he was arrested bv the sound Of slight
noise. He flncied that he heard the gravel
of the alleys crate beneath the light step of
IA woman. He turned his head back, but
saw nothing: his eyes were struck, liowcv-
er, by the extraordinary Wilderness Of the
ocean. He suddenly perceived there 50 IA
tai spectacle, that he stood mo,ionlcss with
surprise, accusing even his senses of dcccp-
lion. The elancing rays Of the moon ena-
! bled him to dis ineuish crowd Of sails at a
considerable distance. a thrill shot through
his frame, and he tried to convince himself
that this terrible vision was only some optical
illusion produced by the capricious play Of
the waves mid the moonlight.
AT that moment IA hoarse voice uttered his
name. The officer looked towards the breach,
and he there saw the head of the soldier by
whom he had been attended to the castle
raised slowly and cautiously in the air.
is that you, mon commandant p"
'Yes. Well, what = answered the young
man in IA low tone, warned by sort Of pre-
sentiment to act with mystery.
Those scamps down there are twisting
about like worms and have FASTENED to
communicate to you, if you will permit me,
the little observations have madc.'
Speak, replied Victor Marchand.
Il have ust been following one of the peo-
pie of the castle who directed his steps this
way with "A lantern in his hand. Now, IA Ian
tern is IA devilishly suspicious thing; for |
have no idea that that good Christian there
has any occasion TO light plous tlpers at this
honr of the night. 'They want to drvour
u.s. said to myself: and set about eyeing
him pretty closely. And so, mon comman-
dant, discovered, hardly three PAGES from
here, on a platform of rock, certain pile OF
faggois-'
A terrible cry echoed through the town,
and interrupted the soldier. A sudden glare
flashed over the face Of the commandant.-
The poor grenadier al the same instant re-
celved bullet in his head, and fell dead
A fire of straw and dry wood bazed like "A
conhagralion within ten PAGES of the young
man. The musical Instruments and the
laughing voices were hushcd in the saloon OF
the hall. The les,al gayety had suddenly
given place to "A silence as of death, inter-
rupied only by groans. The report of a
cannon doomed over the oceans plain of
light. A cold sweat started to the young Of
fcer's forehead. He was unarned. He
understood at once that all his soldiers had
persisted, and that the English were about 10
land. He saw himself dishonored if he sur :
vlved he saw himself dragged before "A coun-
Gil Of war; and then lie measured with his
eye the depth of the valley. He was in the
act ofplunging off, when his hand was seized
by tina, of Clara.
I 'Fly!' she said, my brothers are behind
me. At the foot of the rock, down there.
You will find Juanito's swift Andalusian.-
; Fly
She pushed him forward. The young man
half stupeGed, looked at her for moment
But presently, yielding to the instinct Of self
preservation, which never ahandons even the
s'ronges. man, he plunged among the trees
in the direction indicated, and sprang across
the wall, before irodden BY no other feet than
those of the wild goats. He heard Clara cry
ing 10 her brothers TO pursue him-he heard
the steps of his assassins-he heard the bull
lets of several shots whizzing by his ears
but he succeeded in reaching the valley,
/, found the horse, leaped upon him, and dis
!, appeared with the rapidity Of lightning.
In few hours the young officer arrived
at the headquarters of General c.
!, The latter was at table with his staff.
Il bring you my head T! cried the chel-de
battalion, as he made his appearance, pale
r and exhausted.
lie sat down and related the horrible ad-
T., al,