The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-06-28
The Lottery of Life.
THE voIADERo.


!Shdrpe's Magazine, for May, contains a
translation from the Revue de' De'r hondeS,
ofseveral "Incidonts in the War of Mexican
IndepensIonee," from which We select the fol-
lowing thrilling scene. A captain in the in
surpont army ia giving an account Of a medi-
tateA night attack upon hacienda, situated
Ia the cordiIlerA, and occupied by large
force Of Spanish soldiers. Aner variety of
dBtziiG, he continues
Having arrived at the hacienda unPcrcoiv-
ed.Thanks TO the obseurity of . usooniess night,
We came 10 a halt under some large trees, AZ
eome distance from Tho building, and rode
forward from my troop in order To reconno'-
tro the place, The hacienda, 50 far a' could
soa in gliding hcroSs tho trees, formed hugo
massive parailelogran,, strengthened by enor-
NOUS masses Of hewn stone. Along this chasm
-the walls OF the hacienda almost formed the
continuation Of another perpendicular ono,
chiseIled by nature herself in the rocks, to
the bottom OF which the eye could not pcne-
trate, for tho miats which necessarily boiled
up from below did not allow il IN measure
their awful depths. This plare was known
an the country by tho name Of "he Votdde-
ro.''
q had explored all sides OF the building cx-
cept this. when know not what scruple Of
military honor melted mo To continue my ride
along the ravine which protected the rear Of
the hacienda Between the walls and the
precipiee, there was a narrow pathway about
six feet wide by day, the passage would not
have been dangerous, but by night It whs 4
perilous enterprise. The walls Of the farm
took an extensive sweep, the path crcpt a
round their entire basement Sand to follow IL
10 tho and in the darkness, only two PAGES
from the edge Of a perpendicular chasm, was
no very easy task even for so prnctised n
horseman as myself Nevertheless, did not
hesitate, but boldly urged my horse between
the walls of the farmhouse and the abyss Of
the Volddero. had gone over half the dis
tance without accident when all Of a sudden
my horse neighcd aloud. This neigh made
me shudder. had reached pass whore the
ground was but just wide enough for thefour
legs ofn horse, aud II was impossible to ro-
trace my steps
''Haliol' exclaimed aloud, at the risk Of
betraying myselE-which was even less dan
Eerous than encountering horseman in front
Of me ON such n road "There is Christian
passing along on the ravinel Keep back"
II was TOO late. At that moment, mar
ION horseback passed round one of the but
tresses, which here and there obstructed this
accursed pathway. He advanced towards
+ me, trrmbfcd IN my saddle nay forehead
was hathed in cold sweat
s.For the love Of Cod can you not return
exclaimed, terrified at the fearful situutior
In which We both were placed.
"Impossibler replied the horsemAn, in q
hollow voice.
recommended my soul to God. To4turr
our horses round for want Of room, to back
them along the path which we had travcrsed
or even to dismount from them--these were
three impossibities, which placed us both ii
tthc preaence of fearful doom. Between
two horserhen 30 placed upon this fearful
path, had they been father and son, one Of
them must inevitably have become prey of
the abyss. But few seconds had passed
and we were already face 10 face---the un-
known and myself Our horses were head
10 he9u, ana their noStrlls, uilateu With ter
ror, mingled together their fiery breathing
Both OF va hslted in dead silence. Abnve
was the smooth and lofty waR Of flie hhcien-
ds on the other side, but three feet distance
from the wall, opened the horrible gulf Was
il an enemy had before my eyesp The
love Of my country, which boiled at that pc
riod in my young bosom, lOd me TO bopn il
was, ..llt4 ..f-
'.Are you for Mexico and the Insurgents?"
Iexclaimed, in a moment of excitement, rea-
dy 10 spring upon the unknown horserian If
- he gave a. negative answer. ..r
-'Bferieo hswyenfe---that is my pass
word. !" ret,li4aaslss cavalier ~ am the Col
onel Garduno." ~
"And am Captain GnstanoSl"
Our acquaihianeel was Of lose slAndiAg,
and, but for our mutual agitation. we should
a have hHd no need 20 exchanges our names
81 The colonel had lsA ms two days before at
the head of a detachmont which va sappos-
cd 10 be either prisoners or cutoff, for he had
not been seen 70 return 70 the camp,