The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-06-28

and put ny hand IN the holsters Of my HHds
die "a draw opt my pistols.
~ see II 20 plainly" replied the colonel,
With alarming eoalneaa '.lhat should AlroA-
dy have blown out the brains Of your, horse,
but for the fear lest mine, in moment offer !
ror, should PreeipitAts ma with yourself 10
the bottom of the alyak."
remarked, In tact, that the colonel nirea-
dy held his pistols In bis hand. We both
maintained the most profound silence. Our
hassas sif the dAnsns. liks anrnel1sa, and ~
NAMED Aa immoyAble a. IL their feet were
nailed to the ground My eEeitemeut had
endruly subsidized "WhAt are we going To-
10 2. ! demanded of Lhe Colonel
"Draw lots which Of the two shall leap in
10 tho nyino."
IL was II truth the sole means Of resolving
the difficulty.
"Fhere arc nevertheless some precautions
20 take" said the colonel. ale who shall be
condemned by lot shall retire backwards. II
VIII be bura feeble chance Of escape for him,
/ admit but in short, il is a chance, and os-
peciAlly one in favor ofthe winner"
"You cling not TO lie thea p cried ont,
terrified at the sang froid with which this
proposition was put 10 me
~ cling TO life more than yourself" sharp.
~ replied the colonel ''for have mortal
outrage to Avcugc, But the dmc is slipping
away. Are You ready 10 proceed 10 draw the
Last lottery At which QUE Of us will ever as
aiht =" $50,
How were we 10 proceed 10 this drawing
by lot ny means Of the wet finger, like in
fants, or 10y head aud tail, like the school
boys2 Both ways were imprpetieable. Our
hands, imprudcnhy stretched out over the
hcads 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 distinguiph which side fell up
wards. The colonel bothought him Of an cx-
pctlicnt, OF which never should haze dream
ed.
"Iistcn 10 me, captain" mid the colonel,
to whom ] communicated my perplcxiticsi ~
have another way. The terror which our
horses fe1i makes them draw every moment
a burning breath. The first Of US two whose
horse shall neigh.-----"
wins p Ihastiiy eSoiaimcd.
"Not so-shOll be the loser. know that
you are a couniryman, and such As You can
do whatever YOU please with your horse. As
TO myself who but last year wore the gown
,ncA1 theological student, ! fear your egucs-
trian prowcss. You may be able 10 make
your horse neigh--to hinder him from doing
30 is very different matter"
We waited in deep and anxious silence
until the voice Of one of our horses should
break forth. This silence lasted for n minute
for an agcl Il was my horse who ncighed
the FIRST The colonel gave no external man
Hesitation OF his joy, but no doubt he thanked
God TO the very bottom OF his soul.
"You will allow me minute to make my
peace with Heaven ?" said to the colonel,
with failing voice.
II will, /" he replied. The colonel drew out
his watch. IAddressed towards the heavens,
brilliant with stars, which 7 thought was
looking up TO for the last time, an intense and
n burning prayer.
at is time said the colonel.
! answered nothing, and with infim hand
gathered up the bride Of my horse, and drew
it within my fingers, which were ngitated by
a nervous tremor.
"Yet one moment more" said TO the col
onel, "for have need of all my coolness to
carry into execution tho fearful manGuvre
which am about to commence"
\ "Grauted," replied Garduno.
My education, as have told you, had been
in the country. My childhood, and part OF
my earliest youth, had almost been passed on
horseback. may say without Hattering my
self, that il there was any one in tho world
capable OF executing this equestrian feat, Il
was myself rallied myself with an almost
supernatural effort, and succeeded in rccov.
ering my entire seIf-posseSsion in the very
face Of death. Take il at the worst, had al
ready braved il too often To be any longer a.
harmed att From that instant dared tc
hope afresh.
/ As soon as my horse felt, for tho first time
since my rencounter with the colonel, the bit
eompressinR his mouth, perceived that he
trembleJ beneath me. strengthened my.
self firmly on my stirrups, to make the terri
fed animal understand that his master nc
Longer trembIed / held him up with the
bride and the hams, as every good horseman
docs in a dangerous passage, and, with the
bride, the body, and the spur together, sue
cecded in backing him a few PAGES. His head
was already at a greater distance from that
of the horse of the Colonel, who encouraged
mo all he could with his voice. This DONE
let Che poor trembling brute, who obeyed me
m spite Of his terror, rcpose himself for a few
moments-and then recommended the same
maneuvre. AL on sudden felt his bind
logs give way under me. A horrible shudder
ran through my whole frame + closed my
eyes as il about 10 roll to the bottom Of the
styss, ssd ! gave to my body yiolent i'm
pulse on the side next tho hacienda, the sur
1'IcB Of which ufFercd not ii strIgire projection,
not a single tuft Of weeds 10 check my descent.