Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-05-10


answered. Very well and now, then, a.
bout it at once She was off in a twink
ling, and was at leisure to reflect on what
had done. To tell the truth, l did not,
after few minutes quiet cogitation, feel ex-
cessively comfortable. They would be GER
tain to believe the story; Henriquez being,
| was sure, known to none of them person.
ally. ! was precious deal more like
Spanard than an Englishman; and spoke
the language so well-not altogether gram
ma,ically, it is true, but so like a native of
the South Of Spain-that felt l should
have some difficulty, should occasion re-
quire it, to undeceive them. Then they
had such pestient way Of making not on
ly sure but short work with whoever they
suspected of commerce with the hated
French, that it flashed unpleasanty across
my mind-the generals help might per-
chance arrive too late However, | was in
for it and so, taking another draught of
wine, and refillng my pipe-there's great
philosophy in pipe, as we all KNOW a.
waited the result of my charming scheme
as calmly as could.
1t was not long coming. About half
an hour after Marietta's departure, the door
was slammed open, and l found myself
sprawling and kicking, or rather sprawling
and trying to kick, for they wouldn't let me,
in the arms of five or six ugly rascals, who,
showering upon me all the time the vilest
abuse, hurried me off to prison. Into it
they thrust me like dog and there, when
| could recover breath and speech, | greet
ed Pedro, my fellow prisoner. The alcalde
and Ramez had only promised to release
him, and, of course, when the object was
gained, refused to abide by the bargain. If
| had not been the most consummate ass
that ever browsed or prayed, | might have
guessed as much. Rance had now two
victims that promised double holiday.
Well, gentlemen, this was, as you may
suppose, very unpleasant situation to find
myself in; but as, thank Heaven, was
never much troubled with nerves, did not
so much mind it after bit. Marietta, I
was sure, would be off to the general with
her best speed when she saw the ugly turn
matters were taking; so that, ifmy captors
were not in very patriotic hurry indeed,
there was chance on the cards yet. Pc
dro obtained some cigars of the jailor, an
old acquaintance of his; they were first
rate, and we both became gradually calm
and composed. All, gentlemen, have Of
ten thought that if the moral observations1
addressed that evening to my friend Pedro,
upon the. duty of respecting national prejn-
dices, particularly with regard to shelterlng
wounded foreigners, and the shocking folly
of making rash engagements with young
women, especially after dinner, had been Ia
ken down by shorthand writer, they
would have raised me to the next rink stf-
ter Solomon ~
L" No doubt of it," said Tape, looking
nervously at the clock but do get on cap
tain don't stop, don'tP'
81 will not, Tape; but don't hurry me
as they did. Well, the next day was drag
ged before the alcalde aud that rascal RAJ
mez; where, to my very great and most
pleasant surprise, two men, guerilla soldiers,
swore that they had frequently seen me in
communication with the French outposts,
and that they verify belived me to be no
other than the infamous Henriquez. Vain
ily protested, finding the thing was getting
much too serious, that was an English Of
ficer; my assertions were laughed at, and |
was conveyed to my dungeon, after having
heard myself sentenced to be shot at the
, same hour which was to see the last of Pc
. dro. Mr.. Tape, please to touch the bell.
!, I'll take another cup; for my tongue al
ways feel dry and hot when / come to this
part of the story"
Mr.. Tape did as he was desired quick
. lv, and babe the waiter, who answered the
: summons, jump about" The anxious hab-
erdasher had but just three minutes to spare
7 "That, gentlemen" continued the cap
Y tain "was a very uncomfortable night
, was never, from child, particularly fond Of
: water-drnking; but | remember crawling
S off the straw many times during the night
t aud almost emptying both pitchers. At ten
t o'clock we were to suffer, to be shot to
: death by half dozen rusty muskets. II
0 was dreadfulIy aggravating! Day dawnef
e at last six, seven, eight, nine, ten O'Clock
t tinkled through the jail; the door opened
: and in staked Ramez and the alcalde, fol
!, lowed by the rusty shooting party. We
: were politely informed that time was up
e aud that we must both come to the scratch
d at once, as the spectators ddn't like to bC
!; kept waiting. They then kindly pinlonet
!, US, and away we marched. You never
L perhaps, walked in your own funeral pro
i cession, Tape, did you :"
S Lord, Captain Smith, how can you ash
y such horrd question
e "Wel, if YOU ever should, you'll renIem
s. Der it, that's all. Seeing King Lear is moth
h ing to it, though that's reckoned prett!
deep On we marched, the priests praying
l. the bells tolling, and the internal musket
| men cycling us as if TO make up their mind
l. exactly where to have the pleasure of hit
II ting us, One scoundrel, with a short, ugl,
o snub of an apology for nose, meant,
r could see, to send his bullet through m!
y Roman. Altogether, it was the most dlsa
ii greeablc walk ever took in my life. W.
l. soon arrived at the place of sacrifice, an'
n were ordered to kneel down. Pedro salt
l. l., that jewel of wife of yours has playe'
a us sweet trick but perhaps she'll arrive
&c in time, if she comes at all, to return thank
e for all the good things we are about to re
" ceive and that's a consolation, any way.
l. | then took another look in the direction il
II which the expected succor ought to appear
e when saw, and tried to rub my eyes witt
n my elbows to make sure, but couldn't,
e horsewoman on the summit of the hill
3, pas Marietta! roared out like a ragin
ID bull, and Pedro gave chorus. AS soon a
4 4