The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-26
ST. PAUL MINNESOTA TERRITORY. SATURDAY.

s" He has robbed my house and carried off
my daughter. On, if you are men, and fly
to her rescued"
"When was it done?" exclaimed half
dozen voices, and all eyes were eagerly bent
upon Ricardo, as he replied
"Not two hours since-they can be easily
oyertaken.''
How many were they?" demanded Alb
bott oyF
Some hundred in number! 7" and the Span
lard gazed with despairing look on the lit
tie party before him.
" Boys" said Abbott, in firm tone,
F" who Of you will go with me? For my
self, will rescue her or perish in the at
tempt. e
"I-l,"was the response of every MEM
Der of the li,t!e band, as they caught the
daring split Of Abbott.
IS Then lead on, old man, and ere the set
ting of the sun your child shall be restored
to your arms"
The Spaniard needed no second bidding,
but wheeling his sporting charger he buried
the spurs in his TANKS, and the gallant steed
bore him swiftly onward. Over the cross
road leading to San Antonio they flew, on
their errand Of mercy Down the giant
causeway of San Antonio, and over the fa-
tai bridge Of Churubusco they went, and the
spires of San Augustine glittered in the dis
tance-but no foe was to be seen. The old
man rode before, his gray locks streaming
in the wind, and his dark eye fixed with an
eagle glance before him, scanning the wide
plain and the rock bound sides of Coafreras.
Suddenly raising his long bony arm, he point
ed far on before him to where the road as
cended the mountain height of Cholacinco,
and shouted
"Thege they are! Forward! forwards
A suppressed yell burst from twenty lips,
and as many hands sought their sabre hits.
and loosened the shiny blades in their'scab-
bards, while stern resolve rested upon the
flushed aud heated brow of each. Across
the outskirt Of San Augustine, and down by
the placid lake of Chooloo they sped, and
the next moment they are mounting the rag
ged heights of Cholicineo. On the top they
pause, and down in the vale beyond, not
over half mile off, they discover the rob-
bers moving along unconscious of pursuit.
I" Fall back, Ricardo, and leave the work
70 u.s." said Abbott, addressing the Span
lard.
" Neverr' burst from the pallid lips of
the father.
g But you are unused to scenes of strife,
you light fall, ard then what would become
of your daughter:'
&c No more!" said the old man, g if pa
rent strikes not for his child, who wilI?"
The enemy now discovered the approach
of the little party, spd began to hasten their
speed; but as the large horses of the Ameri-
cans rapidly outstrpped the mustangs, it
became evident that few minutes must end
the race. Finding escape impossible, the
guerrillas wheeled about and hastily form
ing line, came laundering on to meet
them.
"Now, boys, let them have good volley
from the rifles, and then throw them down,
and trust to the sabre and pistol for the
victory. Forward ! and God defend the
right!''
A deafening yell burst from the little band
as Abbott concluded, and unslinging their
rifles, they poured in murderous fire as
they closed with the enemy, which broughr
many stalwart foe to the earth, and draws
ing the glittering blade, fought for victory
or death. Terrible indeed was that bloody
encounter, but it was not of long duration.
A dozen of the guerrilas sunk before the
first fatal fire, and as they closed in hand
to-hand struggle, the tall steeds of the Amer
leans trampled down the lighter ones of the
foemen, and the deadly revolver told with
powerful effect upon the cowardly robbers.
One after another they fled from the field,
and ere half an hour passed, the remnant of
the small band remained its masters. Ten
had fallen III the strife, and lay commingled
with the bones OF forty bandits upon the
sod. Bat where was Ricardo? Kneel,ng
beside yon rock with his pale and haggard
face uptUrned to heaven, with the blood
.oozing from deep wound in his breast, he
is bending over the lifeless form Of his daugh-
ter. From a bullet hole in her snow-white
forehead the tide Of life has ebbed away,
and her lovely locks are dappled in her own
life's blood, now mingled with that of her
father. Standing beside hun, with his feet
resting upon the body of .Ventell, the guer-
rilla chief. is Abbott. His haggard brow is
furrowed with lines of heartfelt anguish,
and his manly heart is beating with sympa-
thy for the bereaved parent. Around them,
but at a respectful distance, stand gathered
the survivors Of that fatal conflict, and the
stalwart band brushed the tear of sympathy
from the eye, as they turned to hide the
emotions of swelling hearts. The old man
motioned Abbott to draw near In an in
slant the youth was at his side, aud dropping
upon one knee, he supported the sinking
form of Ricardo in his arms.
"See that we are Buried" whispered the
Spanard to the youth, 4" and may God re-
ward you for your cndeavors in my behalf.
My child, Gomez and fixing his eye upon
the cloudless sky, he sank slowly back and
expired.
They dug rude grave beside the muir
murihg waters Of Lake OtheIle, and buried
the father and daughter side by side, and the
ripping of the gentle waters sung equiem
to the memory Of the departed. They.fell
beneath the iron hand of the demon of strife,
and persisted by violence before the swords
Of the foe. Goodness and love were for
gotten in the relentless passions of the mind,
rock oil aud tO-eoJ b, tho -. r.