Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-05-24

ways understood that warriors delight in
battle"
Did you, Taper rejoined Captain
Smith "then your innocence has been
shamefully imposed upon. A great pleas
ure oUer battle may be; but ball-favors in
actual course Of distribution are anything
but pleasant to the two-egged targets ex-
pectant. He who thinl5 otherwise, you
may depend upon it never played at the
game. But to return to my story. The
Spaniard, | was saying, capered like a ma
niac-which in truth he was, and that's the
best thing, you'll admit presently, can be
said of him-at every mishap that befell the
Frenchman's spars or rigging-gear and
when, after both ships had been some time
hull down, Bill jenkins announced from the
mzzen-truck, with a roar like a small hur-
ricane, that the tri-color was struck, he fair
/ ly yelled with delight, and was so overcome
with Joy that he tainted away, and had to
be carried below. A man must have lived
in Spain those days TO know to what pitch
national luminosity can be carried; aud this
I Senior Cortina, to add to his aversion for
the French as the invaders of his country,
had suffered, afterwards learned, personal
wrong and violence at their hands. His cha
teau, after foolish resistance, had been
sacked and burned, and his daughter ill
treated by the savage soldiery. After few
hours repose he was again OH deck, ejacu-
latng as before; and by what could piece
out from detached sentences | now and then
overheard, believed him to be imploring
strength and help for the accomplishment of
some great and awful duty which he had
made vow to perform.
Nothing further occurred till we made
the entrance of the Ebro, where we stood
on and off for a couple of days and nights.
AT last our signals were answered, and we
made a successful run of the entire cargo.
As soon as had pocketed the cash, | paid
the crew literally, and despatched the
schooner back to Gibraltar, intending to
join my regiment over land. / fingered
few days at the podesta, where my late pas
senger had put up, and became, in conse-
quence, All actor in the affair which follow
ed.
Gone day, after late dinner, told Sc
nor Cortna who was, and the occupation
usually followed. His dull old eyes fash
ed with joy, and having first pressed con-
siderable present on my acceptance, and
limited that he wished to confer privately
with Inc i'll the morning, he retired to his
chamber. The sight and feel of the money
effected decided change for the better in
my opinion of the old gentleman's rabid
patriotism, and began to think somewhat
highly of one who evinced such touching
gratitude towards an ally. The next morn
ing | was summoned Immediately after
hron 1, c,c ha sat nc
cold, stern, and rigid as an iron image. All
his hightiness was gone and he was as SOL
emn as Judge. His first sentence was a
stunDer want you, MIR. Smith, to con-
vey message to an officer in the garrison
of Bilboa. Bilboa 2 says |, almost lifted
off my feet with surprise. Yes, he repll-
ed, cool as a cucumber Bilboa. The
service is, am aware, dangerous; but the
reward shall be ample This was to the
point, and sensible. What is the officer
name, Senior p Colonel Delisle,' he re-
piled, naming one of the most active and
successful officers in King Joseph's service.
He was, | had before heard, a Spaniard
born, though he now bore a French name
that, | believe, of his wife. You must
know, gentlemen, that many Spaniardsi
through dislike of the old corrupt system Of
government, which, they said, had ruined
The country, joined the intrusive monarch
) as he was called, in hopes of establishing
through him more enlightened rule
: They were called Afrancessados, and were
more bitterly hated by the patriots thar
were the French themselves. Colonel De
Isle ? / exclaimed; why, what on eartl
can you have to say to him!' He is my
son. was the reply. | was dumbfounded
Yes resumed the old man, his cold, hare
eye glttering like a serpents, Colonel De
, Isle is my son and as feel that l have
: not many weeks, perhaps not many days, tC
4 live, | wish to see him once more ere L die
D | wish you TO convey this message to him
, | cannot enter Bilboa myself, for a price il
e set upon my capture. You are used 10 sucl
c enterprises; and, as | said, the reward shall
: be ample. This ring he added, taking III
r old family affair from his finger, will &C
r credit your message Well, | at last con
i scented to undertake the commission, ant
C Immediately set about my preparatlons.-
l. They were completed i'll about an hour
If aud in the afternoon Of the same day al
5, rived safely at Bllboa, distant about clever
IS miles from where we were stopping. 500
IS succeeded in procuring an interview wit
" the Colonel, a fine soldierly-looking mar
l. and at once impaired my message. lie wa
o greatly agltated, and pressed me with hur
lie bred questions, which | answered or evade
Of as well as | could. Finally, he agreed
E. through much hesitation, to meet his fathe
a. for whom he seemed to entertain stron
a. affection, a few miles without the town o
Iy the following day. From his enquiries col
lie corning his sister, ! gathered that he wa
Dt ignorant of the burning and sacking of h
lie palerna mansion, and left him in happ
2 ignorance Oh the subject
lie 81 got safely back to Senior Cortina
re and when informed him of the result,
r. flash as of demoniac joy lighted up his wit
lie cred features, aud fading in an instant, lie
I'd them paler, stonier than before. / coul
~ not comprehend his strange expression
n, face but the faintest suspicion of his m
r. tives never crossed my mind. 1t was ARA
tn ged that | should meet the Colonel an
IL conduct him to small farm house, abo
I'd half mile distant from the place of rel
in devious, where the Senior would be in wal
RI ing
$; Evening was rapidly closing in as