Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-15
BURLINGTON VERMONT. FRIDAY. NOvEMBER15, 1914

track. Ills innocence might nave secured
him the protection of Heaven, but our crimes
have involved him in our common rum
He ceased to speak, and was no longer to be
seen. His coming and going were alike
without noise, and the door of the chamber
remained fast boiled.
On the following morning messenger ar
rived with lidngs that the Bishop Oppas had
been made prisoner in battle by the insnr-
gent Christians of the Asturias, and died in
letters in a tower of the mountains. The
same messenger brought word that the Emr
i Alahol had put to death several of the friends
Of Couut Julian; had obliged him to fly for
his life to "A castle in Arraeon and was en-
barking with formidable force for Centa.
The Countess Frandina, as has already
been shown, was of courageous heart and
danger mrde her desperate. There were
fifty Moorish soldiers in the garrison; she
feared that they would prove lreachrrous,
and take part with their connirymcn. Sum
moning her officers, therefore, she informed
them of their danger, and commanded
them to put those Moors to death. The
guards sailed forth to obey her orders. -
Thrty-fve of the Moors were in the great
square, unsuspicious of any danger, when
they were singled ont by their execuloners,
and, at "A concerted signal, killed ON the spot.
The remaining fifteen took refuge in tow
er. They saw the armada of the emir at a
distance, and hoped to be able to hold out
until his arrival. The soldiers of the coun-
tess saw ii also, and made extraordinary ef-
forts to destroy these internal enemies be-
fore being attacked from without. They
made repeated attempts to storm the tower,
but were as often repulscd with severe loss
They then undermined it, supporting its
| foundations by sanctions Of wood, To
these they set fire, and withdrew to dis
tance, keeping up "a constant shower Of mis-
siles to prevent the Moors from sallvinr
forth vAtiuguis'l tne !lamcs. The STAN
chions were rapidly consumed and when
they gave way the tower fell to the ground.
Some Of the Moors were crushed. among the
ruins, others were flung to distance, and
dashed among the rocks those who survived
were.instantly put to the sword.
| The feet Of the emlr arrived at Ccuta
about the hour Of vosrprs. He landed. but
found the gates closed against him. The
countess herself spoke to him from a tower,
and set him at deiilnce. The emir immc-
diatnly lard sirrc TO the city. He consulted
the a,;roorcr Yuya. who told him that. for
seven DAYS. his star wonld have the ascend .
ant over tina, of the youth Alnrbot hat af,
ter that time the youth would be safe from
his power and would effect his ruin.
Alahor immediately ordered the city to he
n>>,iird on every side, and At lcuc,h carried
it by storm. The countess ,ooa. refuge VITA
her forces in the CITADEL and made desper-
ate defence; but the walls were sappcd and
mined, and she saw that all resistance would
soon he unavailing. Her only thoughts now
were 10 conceal her child. Surely said
she, they will not think of seeking Inn among
the dead" She led him, therefore, into the
dark and dismal chapel. Thou art not
afraid TO be alone in this darkness, my chld!'
No, mother replied the boy, darkness
gives silence and Sleep She conducted him
to the tomb of FlorInda. Fearest thou the
dead, my child?' mo, mother, the dead
can do no Farmland what should | fear
from my sister! 2
The countess opened the scruchrp.-
Listen, my son. sal! she. There are
fierce and cruel people who have come hh-
er to murder hee, STAY here in company
with thy sister, and be quiet MS thou dost val
ne thy life The boy who was Of a coura-
geous nature, did as he was hidden, aud re-
NAMED there all that day, and all the night
and the next day until the third hour.
In the r,eanlme the walls Of the cltade
were sahpcd, the troops of the emir poured
in at the breach, and great part of the gar.
rison was put to The sword. The countess
was taken prisoner and brought before the
emlr. She appeared in his presence with Il
naughty drmeanor, as If she had been a
queen receiving homage; but when he de-
manded her son, she fal'ered, and turned
pale, and replied, My son is with the dead.
Countess said the enir, u am rot tc
be deceived; tell me where you have con-
cealed the boy, or toriures shall wiring f.on
you the secret
Ennis replied the countess, may the
greatest. tormen,s he my portion, both here
and hereafter, il what speak be not the truth