The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-05-12


his small axe, working holes in the ice to
cling to, he disappeared, slowly, on his
hands and knees, over the high summit Of
the mountain. He had been gone but a
few minutes, when he returned to the sight
of the people, and called to them 10 ascend,
for he had discovered q wonder to the aston
ished world-a magnificent cavern through
which ran inexhaustible veins ofgold, and
light as the blaze of day with the precious
stones; the whole interior of the mountain,
he declared, was one immense cavern !;
down from the entrances ran winding gale
ries of easy decent, leading to various apart
ments. He entreated some one to follow
him up, and confirm his story; for, when
he returned, no one would believe his words.
He had hardly finished his announcement,
when whirl-wnd came shrieking around
the mountain peak, an.i the young man was
seen to fall upon his face. and cling to the
edge Of the rock: to preserve himself from be.
ing blown over the precipice. The terrified
people called upon him to descend instantly:
but the sky darkened, and a ,hunder-bot
suddenly struck the pinnacle by which he
had ascended, which fell with a frightful
roar into the deep cleft and his retreat was
cut off forever! Filled with CONSERVATION
and terror, the people fled down the noun
tain-side, abandoning the wretched victim
TO his fate, and shutting their ears against
his screams for assistance. From rock TO
rock, and down the deep ravines-aIone
Drinks beneath which headlong torrents
roared-over chasms crossed by fallen trees
struggling through thiclsets of brush and
shrubbery, and sometimes treading the water
courses of the mountain, awe-stricken the
people hurried, until, when night had closed
over peak and plain, they reached tine valley
The reckless young Spaniard was never
heard Of more; and this is the legend told
and believed by the simple people of the
valley Of the black mountain Of Taos, and
the far-farned, mysterious and appalling
cavern of Montezuma's treasure.
HrNDoo oFABLE-There Is a ble., among
the Hindoos, that thief, having been de-
tected and condemned to die, thought upon
an expedient by which he might be rescued
from death. He sent for the jailer, and
told him he had secret to disclose to the
king and when he had done so he would be
ready to die. The king sent for him to
know what the secret was, He told him
he knew the art Of producing trees that
should bear gold. The king, accompanied
by his prime minister, courtiers, and priests,
with the thief, came to certain spot, where
they began their incanta IONS The thief
then produced a piece of gold, declaring
that if sown it would produce a tree, every
branch of which should bear gold: "but,"
added he. "this must be put into the ground
by person perfectly honest. 1 am not so,
and therefore pass it to your maj jesty."-
The king replied, "when I was boy,
remember taking something from my father,
which, although trife, prevents my being
the proper person. [ pass it, therefore, 10
nv prime minister" The latter said, 81
receive the taxes Of the people, and, as am
exposed 10 many temptations. how is it posi-
bic for me to be perfectly honest? There
fore pass it to the priest" The priest
pleaded the same as to his conduct in re-
ceiving the sacrifices. At length the thief
exclaimed 81 know not why you should
not all four Of you be hanged, since not one
of US is honest" The king was So pleased
with the thief's ingenuity, that he pardoned
him.
"Lo! THE PooR I'-The Delta
says:-A famii yof Choctaw Indians, whose
ancestors have lived immemorabIy in our
vicinity, says Baton Rogue paper, Ord ull.
and who, from more powerful body, have
now dwindIed down to some half-a-dozen
degraded beings, engaged themselves last
week in the solemn office Of capital punish
ment. 1t had been long known that one
of the family in drunken Draw, killed
another, and that punishment must follow,
but the murderer and the friends of the
murdered, have for months visited and en-
camped together upon eqaal terms, appa-
renlly enjoying the most perfect social in
tercourse. On Saturday last, the poor
wretches, covered with rags, and scarcely
provided with food 10 keep their souls ond
bodies together, camped in beautiful piece
of woods near our town. and commenced
the solemn ceremonials for funeral, the
victim taking partin :hem. Towardsnight-
fall the preparations were finished, and the
poor Indian exposed his naked breast--a
load of buck-shot fred by his nearest relaa
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