The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-08-07


II was in truth the sole means Of re.
solving the difficulty. There are, nev-
eriheless, some precautions to take"
said the Colonel. "He who shall be
condemned by the 10, shall retire back.
ward. II will be but fee bic chance Of
escape for him, admit; but in short, il
is a chance, and especially 20 in favor
Of the winner
You cling not to life, them" cried
cried out, terrified at the SANG. troia
with which this proposition was put to
me.
81 cling to life more than YOURSELF"
sharply replied the Colonel, "ior have
n mortal outrage to avenge. But the
time is fast slipping away. Are you
ready TO proceed to draw the last lottery
at which one of us will ever assist
How were we to proceed 10 this draw.
ing by lot! By means Of the wet fin.
ger, like infants, or by head and tail
like the school.boys? Both ways were
inpracticable. Our hands imprudently
stretched out over the heads Of our
frightened horses, might cause them to
give fatal start. Should We toss up
piece Of coin, the night was too dark
to enable us to distinguish which side
fell upwards. The Colonel bethought
him of an expedient, of which should
rever have dreamed.
Listen to me, captain" said the
colonel, to whom l had communicated
my perplexities. ~ have another way
The terror which our horses feel makes
them draw every moment a burning
breath. The first Of US two whose
horse shall neigh -''s
"Wins !" hastily exclaimed.
mot so--shall be the loser. know
that you are countryman, and such as
you can do whatever you please with
your horse. As to myself, who but last
year wore the gown Of theological
student. fear your equestrian prowess.
You may be able TO make your horse
neigh; to hinder him from doing so is
a very different matter"
We waited in deep and anxious ST.
lence until the voice Of one of our hors-
es should break forth. The silence
lasted for minute-for an age. 1t was
my horse who neished the first. The
colonel gave no external manifestation
Of his joy, but no doubt he thanked God
to the very bottom of his soul.
You will allow me a minute to make
my peace with Heaven ?" l said TO the
colonel, with failing voice.
"Will five minutes be sufficient"
"1t WILL" I replied.
The colonel pulled out his watch. ]
addressed towards the heavens, brilliant
with stars, which l thought was look.
ing up to for the last time, an intense
and a burning prayer.
1T is time." said the colonel.
answered nothing, and with firm
hand gathered up the bride of my horse
and drew it within my fingers which
were asltated with nervous tremor.
Yet one moment more,' l said tc
the colonel, "for 1 have need of all my
GOODNESS to carry into execution the
fearful vancouver which / am about te
commence.
Granted replied Garduno.
! My education, as told you, had beer
in the country. My childhood and par
Of my earliest youth had almost beer
passed on horseback. l may say, with
out flattering myself, that if there wa
any one in the world capable of execut
ing this equestrian feat, it was myself
| rallied myself with an almost super
natural effort, and succeeded in recov
ering my entire self-possession in TIN
very face Of death. Take it at til,
worst. l had already braved it too offer
to be any longer alarmed at it. From
that instant, ] dared to hope afresh.
As soon as my horse felt. for the frs
time since my rencOntre with the colonel
the bit COMPRISING his mouth, l per
ceived that be trembled beneath me.
strengthened myself firmly on my stir
rups, to make the terrified animal un
) derstand that his master no longe
trembled. l held him up With bridl,
and the hams, as every good horsema'
!. does in dangerous passage, and will
the bride, the body and the spur to
gether, succeeded in backing him few
PAGES. The colonel encouraged me al
he could with his voice. This done,
left the poor, trembling brute, wh'
obeyed me in spite of his terror, repos
a few moments, and then re-commence,
the same mauouver. All on sudden
felt his hind legs give way under me.
, horrible shudder ran through my Who'll
frame. ] closed my eyes as If about II
roll to the bottom Of The abyss, and
gave my body violent impulse on tn
side next the hacienda, the surface Q
which offered not single projection
not tuft of weeds to check my descen
4 This sudden movement joined to tn
= desperate struggles of my horse, was tn
salvation OF my life. He had sprun
up again on his legs, which SCENE
ready 10 fall from under him, so de.
: pera,ely did feel them tremble.
had succeeded in reaching b.
e tween the brink Of the precipice an
| the wall Of the building. a spot som
e few inches broader. A few NOR
n would have enabled me 10 turn hi,
d round, but to attempt it here woul
i have been fatal, and l dared not vel
ture. ! sought to resume my bacl