The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-06-21

Ie every house had been searched. and that, I
II The best Of his knowledge, all the ma lie in
: hab'tanls who remained IN the village wer
e now present
g Let them be separated from the womel
e and children said the general.
, The order was promptly executed III,
o mel being drawn up in a line before Nina
i II was strange, an anxious scene the
elderly men stood, like ancient Romans
with their clOaks thrown abou ,hem il
every variety OF picturesque drapery, some
VI their younger companions were dressed
in brown woollen jackets. their snow. whie
E shirt collars falling on their shoulders, 9th
ers in short blue smock- -lrocks, confined
around the waIs, by broad girdles Of brigh,
: mixed colors. All wore the picturesque
boIns, but OF varied hues blue, white OF
red.
l The women & children formed gloomy
background 10 this singulsr picture they
were far more numerous than lhs men, one
or more Of every family having Joined the
Carlis. party. The young girls who only
forty. eight hours before had been weaving
chaplels with SO much glee and energy now
stood molonIess, some looking 6xedly on
Mira; others, their hands casped and their
beautiful eyes raised towards heaven, ap
peated absorbed in prayer. The old wo
man, c-ouched on the ground, Piled her
knitting needless with greater diligence, her
lips moved rapidly, but no sound escaped
from them, and she had SO placed herself
1s TO be able 10 peer through the sligh,
separation between TWO Of .he men who
stood before her.
Mina'now advanced few PAGES in from
Of his staff officers, and thus addressed the
si'lagers
i know that two days ago, three mor,ars
passed through your village Oh their way
20 ElizonGo, and that yesterday, they
we're brought back. | also know that they
ave been concealed in this vicinity with
,he knowledge Of the inhabianls;where are
heyF
Not syllable was uttered ir reply.
Where are the gunsI' cried Nina with a
oud voice and irrltaled manner--'the nor
ars you decorated with garands, because
YOU supposed they were shortly TO be used
1gainst the queens forces!
rhe people continued silent.
Whilst this was going on--.hs eyes Of the
staff officers ant Ihe troops being all fixed
on the general and the villagcts-the cura
had managed to Glide into narrow alley
by the side Of the church (aI the back of
which, by strange oversight no senliOel
had been placed, )then darling down lane,
ne crossed rivuIeI at the end, and plung
led into a dell.covered with brushw0od, :,
thence through paths well known to him
Inc bent lis course towards small town
about a league off, where lie knew there
was Carllss garrison.
Nina, finding he could not make any
= impression on the determined people be-
fore him turned sharply round with the in
lent1n of commanding the Cura 10 use
his influence them 10 induce them 10 give
him the information he required; not see
ing him, he SAID, 'WhCle is the cura'
Search the church!-Search his houseI
This being reported 70 Nina he shrug
ged his shoulders and proceeded once more
o harrsngue the uhitude:-'Well,' said
he, you appear resolved TO refuse giving
me the information ask for; now, listen
to the voice of Nina who never promises
or threats in vain. tf; in one quarter OF an
hour by this watch (dIawiug it from his
pocket be place where the carlist morlars
are hidden be not divuIged, will decI
mate the men now before me. Every tenth
man shall be Instantly shot-decide for
yourselves.
1t was a fearful quarter Of an hour.
Each man was Joined 6y a iemsle-a
mother, wife sister, or one 10 whom his
heart was devoted, The only individual
unollced by any Of The women wa. The
gypsy. He was stranger 10 The village
and belonged to a race for which there
, was no sympathy on the part OF the
n Nsvarrese, although its members were
Q at ,ha early period Of The civil war EN-