Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-28

passed the middle !, on the previous
eveping had been black and glossy as the
ravens wing, were white as if the SHOWS
of seventy years had descended on his head
the lady was an idiot
Neither need we exfatiasc on the feel
ings of young Silva, as he beheld-if IN
deed such an expression be correct as ap-
pliedfo his sensationsatnid the thick dark
ness which reigned Yppally within the
frightful rcccsses of aaf horrid cavern
the gradual approacheyyf apparently in
cvitable death; the rising waters gradually
ascending to the level offhe ledge on which
he stood-to his knees; his hips; his middle;
his arm-pits. Conscious, by this time, that
something extraordinary had occurred to
prevent his parents from effeciing his re-
lease, all hope Of life had faded, and what
he deemed a last prayer to Heaven was
quivering on his lips, when loud shout
from the mouth of the pit drove the blood
which had began to stagnate round his
heart, again Ike lightning through hisveins.
Prompt as the echo was his reply; and the
next moment the cord from above struck
the water within reach of his arm. With
all the despatch which his numbedsfngers
would permit. he fastened it around him,
and announcing his readiness BY another
shrill cry, was drawn in safety to the top.
He learned, on inquiry, that a neighbor-
ing peasant tempted by the luscious fruits
with which the trees in Don Ricardo's
garden were loaded, had, on the very night
in question, ventured on predatory cx-
cursion against them; and was actually en-
ployed in filing bag with the spoils, when
he was alarmed by the entrance Of the
young man and his farther asrelaied, on
the appearance ofthe Christine cavalry
Taking refuge in a clump Of Towering
shrubs, he had been an unseen observer Of
the young mans descentinto the Fishpond,
and all the subsequent occurrences. Rea.
Oily comprehending the entire affair, the
honest fellow watched the Dragons clear
Of the grounds, and knowing that not a
moment was to be lost, procured a rope
and hastened again to the spot, when the
result was as we have described. He now
related to young Silva the substance Of a
singular conversation which, as he lay con-
cealed, he had overheard betweentheC Chris
tino commander and his subordinate officer
In reply to some inquiry of the latter con-
cerning the authority Of his information,
with reference to the visit Of the Carlist of
fcer Oh said the superior, in significant
tone, my intelligence must be authentic,
since have had it from on high
What exclaimed the subaltcrn, laugh
ingly, have you got correspondent in
heavenP
Why, not exactly was the reply: my
correspondent is yet a resident of earth,
and yet / receive his communications lite
rally from the clouds. AT another time,
however, may give you further informa-
ton concerning my celestial informant. AT
present | am not at liberty
The peasant who related this strange
conversation discovered nothing in it be-
yond an unmeaning .jocularity bordering
on profanity; but Silva, who, during his
seclusion, had naturally been specializing
on the probable channel through which
the Christmas had obtained information OF
his presence, conceived ii to convey much
more than met the car, and to want but a
certain key to explain the import ofits
mysterious illusions. A few minutes af
forwards hefound lying on the floor Of the
hall, what a little reflection led him to re
gard as furnishing the key which he re
quired. This was nothing more than d
scrap of paper, less than the palm of I
mans hand, greatly crumblcd, as it it had
been rolled up and thrust into small
space, much soiled, and slightly burned, on
which was written, in characters almost il
leglble, from the treatment it had under
gonc-'Silva, leutcnant,-battahon Car
list infantry, will spend tonight at his ia
TIERS house, on the rivers side, close to
the shore. Scrgcant-knows the spot
and can guide a party thither,' Having
this important document, which had been
accidentally dropped by the Christine of
icer, and examined its appearance atten-
lively, noted the burn, when It decidedly
smelt Of gunpowder. He Immediately
crossed the river, and in another hour was
safe within the Carlist lines, when his first
act was to wait on the colonel, of his batlal-
ion, recount the events of the night and
acquaint him with the suspicious he had
formed.
1t is necessary to statehcre that Silva's
battalion was posted on a steep height i'm
mediately overlooking, indeedoverhanging
Bilboa, and that SO closely that it terinina.
ted on the side next the city in a perpen-
dicular cliff, which actually formed part oi
the wall, bounding the military ground
appropriated to the use Of the queens gar
rison in the city; SO that any object thrown
from the top would necessarily, after de-
scent of between three and four hundred
feet, fall withinthe limits Of the belcagured
town. On the table land at the top Of this
dizzy height Carlist sentry was regular
" stationed, whose chief business was tc
observe the movements OF the Christine
troops below, and report accordingly tc
his superiors. 1t had been remarked, that
so inveterate was the hostility of the mar
Murito-who, at an early period of the
seige, had deserted from the garrison-to,
wards his former comrades, thatinvariably
on being relieved from his guard, he pro
ceeded to the edge Of the cliff and dis
charged his musket, at the Christmas be
meath, the great height Of the precipicc
precluding all danger from a return Of the
fire. Lieutenant Silva remembered hav-
ing made inquiry of this man concerning
the safety Of the road adjoining his fathers
residence, and felt convinced that no Other
individual in the Carlist camp was acqain
ted with his intention Of proceeding thithel
at ALL
Nothing further ofinportance transpir
ed that day. Towards the close Of the
next, it happened to be Murito's turn a
gain to mount guard at the the top Of the
cliff, As the hour which would terminate
hls vi o,pr0,cboJ r iaufap,p. Sils-a