The Arkansas banner., 1849-05-22
The Smuvwler.

in OeFmaay, N sitaatsd . lonely Fhiage, oUee ta- hahited by poor. though viriaeas and industrious people; now, since it has been thrown iais the cor Rer of kingdom. nest ef smsxglers asd thieves with a their vices, have ikeFr takea up their a1ade fostered by the lucrative though daHRerous profess sioa that is there pursned. Al inst village, with all the pride of baadit, boosting of their achieve meats they related to me circamstaRee. the thought ef which ntakcs saiJer,
 "Come along" said father evening to his daughters girl Of t,irteen. who had just retnro~d from the pastor of the village, who was giViag her iustneuoBs preparatory to confirmation, e pat oa thick coat have something tO get io-aight. Bid your mother good by. aud beg her to lay her hand upon your head; for we eannot tell whether the Almighty il bring safe through the business or not" They set out The wind blrw intensely cold over the hills. and hewied among the trees; while low ciouds, heavily laden with saow, sailed slowly over the gray heads of tho Baked rocks They proceeded iu silence aiong an nnfregucnted noun tain path, ciamber-d like ohamois aiong yawaing abyss. where foaIning torrent was struggling against the oserPo~ering force Of winter Lay hold of my belt" whispered the father. ss though spprehensive lest the very air should overhear him. l. and hold fast; lis not the most pleasant wakiag here" The girl tteInbled with cold and fear. and silently followed her rough eonductar. ''Step.' he cried all al once. " do you hear notaing1 Has not those med'S voiccs''
 "Nc, f,ther-t is the wind blowing through the pines"
 Stand still, thea and listen--thosc mus, be foot steps. hear them quite pain.''
 No, father, il is the icr thas is bursting in the abyss and the water dashing against the rocks. ''
 The old man. wrapped ii. grsy snsiont. clapped bis 10 the side of the rock to isten, and pre- senty cried, come on The path was more difficult, and the rocks more abrupt.
 "Shoud any misfortune befal me to- night my dear girl" said he. ", ,s your mother she must not give up the business; have made proti,ab" con cern Of il, and should not die content if believed 1t would drop with my life You are now old enough 10 lend a hand; and when yon have once taken the sacrament, you will be able, l should think. to carry on the thing well enough
 He Then directed her to conceal herself in a small cavern In tue rock. 'Yoa may eat veur supper there" he observed |" for We are now upon the frontier; and mp wonder you would only be in my way. will whistle when I come back. When you hear that sign, look about you and bestir yourself
 With these words he continued his ascent. and the half frozen girl crept sobbing Into the snowy retreat, to say batter noster At dizzy depth be- low her the torrent roared otoaoasy; and before her. the wind whired ihe snow ia furious eddias from the rocks. She alone in this dreary spot
 After while the appointed signal was given, and she heard footsteps Her father came with pack which he dragged after him.
 ' Here, said he, pull # in; it's but light, and
 
 round sum. though.
 The pack deposited in the cavern aud th,. smuggler went back again. The girl, meanwhile. cFouched behind the pack, and rubbed her frozen limbs t0 warm and keep herself awake. Some time again elapsed; agslna whistle was given as be- He bads her take up the hrst and made her 20 on before him.
 :. Father. hear dogs harking-dOnt you '''
 "No, no, child-d is only the wheezing of my old lungs"
 There, agaiA! l fancy hear something be- hind us"
 "Go along. girl. and hold your tongue"
 "There is something moving behiad us, father, down yonder-dou't you see ;''
 Good God.-the sharp. shooters! We are lost if we cannot reach the ravine!'
 A dog came up, and threatened to seize the man. when, clnging, without other hope of safety to the rock, he hurled his pack at the animal, which tumeled. bowling, together with mass of snow, down the precpice. Give il me-" he cried. taking the lighter load from the girl graspiDg her hand firmly. and dragging her with accelerated steps down the rocky path. Fright deprived her o( the nse of her iInhs, and he dragged her along like dead thing. Destruction passed closer and closer upon their heels. Voices repeatedly cried "halt ' No answer was returned. and the report of piece was reverberaied a hundred tod by the echoes of the mountains. The ball struck the rock and drop ped at their feet.
 Merciful Gcd.' ejacusted the girl-'' canno, go any further Leave here, father; they will not murder me ,'
 '' But you will beiray ne. gir.'
 No. no, no; leave me here, and mako your eseape.''
 ' ou will betray me, and bring yoar father to the g'aiIows. Come, come along
 Filled with despair, he raised her from the ground and wound, with his twofoid burden. around the ledge of the rock. lt was to no purpos. ihe sharp-shoo;efs appeared above sDd below. and Ih- anxiety ot the sfunggier increased every instant bs glH had suak down, ss il ina ninate, and al the rttors of the aifrighted father to arouse her Were unavsiling. Agaiu heard tho cry of '" halt --again The halls whiZzed past, aud the ministers of the law kept approaching nearer and nearer, Life death depeuded on a single tuorpent. lie bent his chiid. and caught her m hIs arms. " So help God ia my utmost need hc elsenlated, and throw her dow the abyss The body dashed against the proieetng crsgs in the descent, asd tolea into the iorreBt beucath. The Pursuers stood aghast ht ts1p atrocious ae~d. and overPowerrd with horror. dropped their wsapons. The smnggier escaped with his pack, and lias often visited the same sPut similar erramd.