Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-03-30

that time. nfiai ama133 Iail
This was just about the close Of the day.
when Hall and / were draining our flask Of
the last drop, and surveying from the noun
tain slope, the magnificent prospect of the
verdant Vega, spreading at our feet like a
brightly tinted map, having that warm and
roseate glow which might well win it the
name Terra Cahente. Malaga, the ancient
bulwark of Spain against Africa, was shining
in the distance, with its towers and gates. flat
rooted houses, and vast cathedrals its Moor
ish castles and Gothic spires all bathed in a
warm and sunny yellow; while beyond Law
the broad blue Mediterranean, dotted by sails.
and changing from gold to purple and to blue.
This was all very fine but our pleasure
was lessened by the conviction that our little
rascal Pedrillo was absconding with our game !;
and we knew it would never do to relate to
the gun-room mess how we had been outwit-
ted, on returning to the Blonde next day.
The foreground of this beautiful panorama
was broken by innumerable small hillocks and
clumps of wood of many kinds; but princi-
pally olive, pine, and cork trees, that grew on
the slope of the great Sierra and though the
sky and landscape darkened fast after the sun
set, we instituted strict and angry search for
Pedrillo, shouting and whistling as we stum-
bled on, we knew not very well whittier,
looking for our lost spoils-two foxes, with
gallant brushes. and eight brace of BIRDS
No moon had risen, the wind began to whis-
tie among the groves and hollows; the night
was very dark.
what if we should meet Master Juan of
Antequera, said |.
If we had our game, should be very well
pleased replied Hall (; but wish that Pc
drillo had been with the old scratch when we
hired him yesterday. If had the little lub-
Der on board the Blonde, | would show him
the main-top.'
Spain is a land of mishaps and events,
said l.
Yesterday we were wishing for an adven-
ture =
And tonight we have one with ven
geance,' said /.
Belay; see some one moving in that
hollow. Let us jump down-ahoy below
there!'
But we may lose the track urged
True; so do you remain where you are,
while 60 down into the hollow Hollo now
and then, to let me know your Whereabouts.
With his rife in his hand, Hall, who was a
fine active fellow, sprang down into ravine
that suddenly yawned before us, and remain
ed with my rifle cooked, and stopped low to
watch what might follow. Hall disappeared
in the obscurity below, / halloed; but the
night-wind tossed back my own shout upon me.
Then thought heard his voice, and sprang
after him ; but fell upon point of rock, and
sank, completely stunned, to the earth.
There ! lay for nearly quarter Of an hour,
unable to move, or rally my senses. When !
arose, found myself at the bottom of the hol-
low, and upon a narrow mule-track the moon
was rising brightly at the south end of the ra-
vine, silvering the masses of rock, tufts of lau-
rel trees, and wild vines that grew in the
clefts of the basalt. | shouted, but received
no reply and after long and fruitless search
could discover no trace of Hall in any direc-
ton. taa t.s.rf-
Considerably alarmed for his safety as well
as my own-for TO lie at night upon those hills
of Antequera, with the devilish stories Of Pc
drillo and the contrabandistas haunting ones
memory, was anything but pleasant tried
the charges of my rife, looked again to the
percussion caps, and set off in that direction
where by the rising of the moon, | knew that
Malaga must lie; but frequently paused to
halloe for Jack Hall, and received no reply
save the echoes Of the rocks.
The ravine descended and grew more open.
Again | saw the Vega sleeping at my feet in
the haze; and, on turning an angle of the road
I approached with joy, concluding that my
friend jack must have gore that way, and
would probably be there.
Like all Spanish inns, it was large and
mis-shapen edifce, the lower story of which
was nothing better than a great open shed, for
mules and vehicles; and, ascending from
thence by stair, reached gallery, at the
door Of which was received by the host, whe
carried in his hand stable-lantern.
Entrar,' said he, bowling profoundly; 'en-
trar, senor,'
/ have been shooting on the mountains,
said |, and have lost my companion, Brit
ish naval officer Has he passed this way!'
mo, senor, replied the host, (whose face
| could not yet see,) as he led me up another
stair
Then get supper prepared; for he must be
here soon, as i have no doubt he knows pretty
well the direction of Malaga. And now,' said
4, drawing long breath, as | seated myself,
'what place is this = isd ss.s .saiaer,a
La Posada del CduHo 2 g 'i5 sissm a..
'Eh! ah-and you = I asked, in a thick
voice.. ........ ....r ,.
Martin Secco, at your service, Senor Ca
ballero y .a -
Here was denouemcnt t-
Good Heavens = thought I, mechanically
resumine my rifle if the stories Of Pedrillo
should beetrue.' H
scrutinized my host and hostess.
Martin had broad and open visage, with