Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-07-03

that attracts you!
4 cannot answer that question: said |, 'but
will you set me ashore 2
Certainly if you wish it; am just about
to leave the ship myself-so get ready
In few moments one of the quarter boats
was lowered down, and hauled to the gang
way, and jumping into her the men showed
of, and l was quickly landed on the mole Of
the city.
L had Just reached the shore, when the
changing of an hundred bells told that a fire
had broken out, and was raging with the most
uncomfortable fury; crowds were rushing
past me, eager to arrive at the scene of the
confagration, and impelled by natural Curl
osity, followed the dense mass of human
beings rushing onward, and soon found myself
in the main plaza Of the city.
AT this point the devouring element was
raging with the most ungovernable fury. A
large palace-like building was completely
wrapped in flames, and twenty or thirty en-
gines were playing upon it, but apparently
without effect. Soon the word was passed
that a young lady was in one of the upper
rooms, and must inevitably perish if not i'm
mediately rescued.
sWill no one volunteer to save the girl 2
inquired a venerable-looking old man, coming
forward, and crying at the top of his voice.
five thousand pesos to the man who shall res
cue my daughter!
Still no one offered TO run the fearful risk.
The danger was too great, and Spaniards are
provcrbially careful not to put themselves in
harms way when it can be avoided. A lad
/ der had been raised to the roof, and in order
to save her, it was necessary for some one TO
ascend it to Just abreast of the window of the
room in which the lady was imprisoned by
the flames, which was something like sixty
feet from the ground, and then to jump from
one of the rounds, of the ladder, distance of
at least six feet, into the apartment, where by
means of a rope he must lower her down to
the pavement, trusting to good luck and cir
cumstances to make good his own retreat
Gus feat, and it is not to be wondered at, that
of all that immense assembly, not-one could
be found to attempt it.
( Just at the crisis, the young lady herself
appeared at the window, and although pale
as death, her bearing was firm and undaunted.
and seen as she was at the centre of the win
dow, her features lit up by the devouring
flames that were leaping and cracking on ev-
cry side, she resembled some beautiful Mad
donna, with dishelved hair floating loosely
over the naked shoulders framed in the wall
of the burning palace. One look at those
peerless features suffice for me; | could not
be mistaken. 1t was the same lovely crea-
ture had rescued from the bandit Just at
this moment the old man, her father, who had
gazed with agonizing looks upon his child !;
with the power of assisting her, again cal
led out:
'Will no one venture to ascend the ladder
and save my child +! Must see her perish
before my eyes! Were | not SO old, you
would soon see how would fly to her res
cue! Ten thousand pesos to the man who
shall deliver my daughter from the flames ?
Look here old gentleman said |, coming
forward from among the crowd, 4 don't want
your money, because | have enough Of my
own but tell me, if / succeed in rescung
your daughter shall have her for my wife 2
/ Hem = answered the old man dryly, and
casting his eyes upon a tall military officer
near by, who did not offer to move peg in
the matter himself, but who scowled upon
me from beneath his shaggy eyebrows, Il
don't know about that, young man. Who are
you ?
That matters not, sir-if | save your
daughter viii you give her to me for my
bride 2
Again the old man cast his eye upon the
officer, as if hoping that he would bestir him
self in the matter, but he did not; he only
regarded me with snake-like glance, and
with look seemed to say, Il should like to
slit your windpipe, old fellow Finding,
however, that there was no hope in that
quarter, the father of the girl turned to me
steadily for moment, like one in trance.
1t was quickly broken however, by scream
from the young lady, followed by the crash
Of a portion of the roof which fell to the
pavement with terrible velocity
Jump, jump my lad! Quick, be quick,
and save her and she is yours!
Il did not wait for further Inducements
Tearing off my coat, | seized rope from
the hands of one of the fremen, and rushed
to the window where stood the lady implor-
ing my succor. The window was at least
n I