The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-28

and sank, completely stunned, to the
There lay for nearly quarter of an
hour, unable to move, or rally my senses
When arose, found myself at the bot.
tom of the hollow, and upon narrow
mule-track; the moon was rising bright,
ly at the south end Of the ravne, silver
ing the masses Of rock, tufts of laurel 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 di.
rection.
Considerably alarmed for his safety a.
well as my own-tor to lie at night upon
those hills of Antequera, with the devllish
stories of Pedrillo and the contrabandistas
haunting ones memery, anything but
pleasant tried the charges of my rifle,
looked again to the percussion caps, and
set OH IN that direction where, by the ris.
ing of the moon, l knew that Malaga
must lie; but frequently paused to hollo
tor Jack Hall, and received no reply save
the echoes Of the rocks.
The ravine descended and grew more
open. Again l saw th1 Vega sleeping at
my feet in the haze; and, on turning an
angle of the road, found myself close to
AN inn or taberna, which l approached
with JOY, concluding that my friend Jack
must have gone that way, and would pro-
badly be there.
Like all Spanish inns, it was a large and
,nissiIapen edifce, the lower story Of which
was nothing better than great open
shed, for mules and vehicles and, ascend
ing from thence by a stair, | reached
gallery, at the door Of which was receiv-
ed by the host, who carried in his hand
stable-lantern.
"Entrar," said he, bowing profoundly {;
"entrar, senor."
II have been shooting on the noun
tains," said |, "and have lost my compan-
ion, q British naval officer. Has he pass
S"No, senior" replied tie nost, ,~nas..
face could not yet see,) as he led me up
another stair.
Then get supper prepared for he must
soon be here, as have no doubt he knows
pretty well the direction of Malaga. AaI
now," said |, drawing long breath, as
seated myself, ''what place is this Z"
La PoSadd del Cauaklo." CD
"Eh! ah-and youg" asked, in a
thick voice.
Martin secco, at your service, Senior
Caballerov"
Here was a denouement!
Good Heavens thought I, mechani-
caIly resuming my rifle; "if the stories of
Pedrillo should be true"
scrutnized my host and hostess.
Martin had broad and open vsage,
with keen eyes, and black beard AS
horsebrush wide mouth, that frequent
iy expanded in grins; but in those grins
no radiance evel lit up his CLASSY eye
The mouth laughed; but they remained
immovable-iuvariably bad sign. His
forehead receded, and his ears were placed
high upon his head. At the first glance,
| concluded that my senior patron was an
unmitigated brute. His figure was some.
what portiy, and encased in brown lack
ct, brown kneebreeches, and black stock
ings; he wore his hair confined, in a cauI,
and had yellow sash round his waist.
His vito was, as PedrilIo had described
lnez Secco, Basque, for her Spanish was
almost unintelligible; and her coarse black
hair was plated in one thick tail, which
reached to her heels. Her gown was of
rorgh red cloth, with tight sleeves and a
short skirt displaying pair of yellow
worsted stockings and leather sandals, fi.s-
tened by thongs above the ankle. Her
face WAS coarse and bioated but the ex.
preston Of her eye terrible. 1t hovered
between the bright ferocious glare of a
snake, and the glazed orb Of An arraut
sot She scanned me closely; and
thought the old devil, (she was Spanish
woman, and past forty,) was accurately
apPraiSlng the value Of all | had on.
We'll, sonora patrona," said l. "what
can have for support"
"The senor has come at bad time, fDr
we have little or no provisions in our lar.
oer." (The larder Of every Spanish inn
has been in the same condition since the
days Of Cervantes and Gongora.) "For
now this road between Malaga and Ante
quera is but little fequented after noon,
day, owing to the terrible robberies ana
the four assassinntons committed by Juar
Roa, during the last Salano. Caramba
It's very hard that we should suffer fol
him."
"What can have, then 7"
"A roasted galiua, dressed with q few
beans" said the patrona.
"And glass Of good aquadiente," nd.
ded the host; "our Tierno has soured ir
the wine skins"
"'Tis poor fare: this, for hungry men
| have said that expect my friends ARR
} val momently."
The host gave cold smile, and said
awe have had nothing ourselves, for
week past, but Indian corn and boiled gar
} bauzos (beans;) but the best we have 1
: at the disposal Of the senior caballero."
, The inn was old and crazy !; the win,
came in at one Granny, and wbistIed on
: by another. The roof, walls and noor o
the large apartment in which we thre
were seated, consisted Of multitude Q