The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-05-13

IT,
iustIln hnce-brecchcs. without braces. with
mulctcer's embroidered shirt, and having a
yellow handkerchief tied round his head
spread (not ovcrclcan) cloth on the table:
knives, forks aud covers were lald for two.
with a cold fowl. loaf of white bread 4 dish
OF beans. garlic and a bottle of ao aa,lcntc.
| observed this wihl-oohing waiter fire.
qucEtly glance at my rifle, and the icwclcd
dirk that danglcd at nv wast-belt: became
suspicious of everything
''You are well armc! scnor," said he.
ut is natural; for arms arc my profession,
saidI.
looked at my watch: the hands indicated
eleven o'clock Two hours had clap>cd
since Hall and | had separated still there
waS'no appearance Of him. TweItv times |
opened the shutters of the unclazcd windows.
and listened intcntIy: but the night wind that
swept down the dark ravinc in the Sierra.
brought neither shout nor toot>tcp; 50 | re-
solved to sup. 90 to bed, and trust to dayi4ht
for discovering Jack, if he did not arrive at
the po>ada before morning
had Just concluded supper, when the last
remains OF the last candle in this solitary nm
sank into it> iron socket. and left Us in dark
sat least with no other LIGHT than the
red, wavcrng glow that came from the hearth
where a few roots OF pirc and cork-wood
Smouldcrcd beside the brown puchcro. in
which the amia5c patrona had boiled the
beans for my rcpa>t.
Here is a pretty piece of business" :" said
Martin Srcco: "wc have not another candle.
were it TO light blessed altar: and the senior
Cabcllcro must 90 to bed in the dark"
"llccd not that. Srnnr PATRON said I: "for
am soldier, As vou may See and used TO
discomfort
Ills well for am sure the >cuor has
experienced nothing but discomfort in our
poor po~aio. When | am rich cnou y. .~cnor.
hope to have ho:c! in the Almol,: AZ /
then should the CaL,lcro ever cone 10 Ma
lara again. he will remember Martin Sccco. ="
At this remark. | heard the ratrona utter
a low chnrkline lan.h: In. whether at the
pro~1c,', of the fine ho,cl or the doul;f;i
chances OF my ever aGlin visiting Nll,"a. I
could not say
/ y
: nv rifle. IL should ike to reach the town be-
times tomorrow: so show me to my chamber
and should my friend arrive, fail not to cal
me-"
, ''Will you not leave your gun here ?" Sns-
rcstcd the host
Thank vou-no" sad I. whi'c my undo
, fined su~pcons grew stronger within ne
DO yo" lead TIE WAY. Scror. and ,hall fol
= low. Good night. scnor patrona"
p "Hrtno nortc. senior" sad she. Stirrinr III
: the cml,cr> and we separated
To follow Martin was perhaps the most IN
| pleasant part had vet acted for had (,
= gropc my way after him along a dark pa
: SAGE. about forty feet lonrat the end Of v hi !
: lie u.hcrcl me into a room. where there va
A no othcr lirht than that given hv the moon
! which ShOnc through a small window r'a7e.
n with little pains Of Sc .,a>> Here h,
. hadc me ''H,,cpo no,Lc: and after many a
: poIogics for my miserable accommodation
: left me.
k The apartment was small In one corno
II stood Frrnrl, bed. having lirlt-colorcl eur
{ tains: this with a '.a>in->tan1 two chairs an,
=, mirror, made np the furniture. Like a tru
Il soldier, turned to secure the door.
" Destitute Of lock or boil; it had ONLY
&c small thumb-latch
e D:sm0uIInr the ever and basin. | place
1t them standing cnlwi>c between the bed an
i n" door. firmly GXinr i. and hH> forming
harriredc, which none could force without a
r. wakcniny me. To make all sure. ara
" dropped the ramrod into each barrel of m
rifle. passed finger over the cap>unhucRl,.
IN The belt at which my dirk ,l.,r.,cl ans! I'll
out undressing, for every moment ! cN',..,.'c
rc 70 hear Jack Hall, hallooinr outside the
- IN short. tob prepared for anvilin.
in threw myself down on the coverl,t. and we;
T. ry and worn by long DAYS rambc anon
e. the mountains. prepared to sleep.
e. For long time. a species of wakctulnc.
lie possessed me: the means of the passing WIN
it. The tapping OF loose board in the extcrna
- gallery. the waverine shadows thrown bv Il!
or moonlight on the damp and discoIorcd wal
even the ticking OF my watch disturbed M
and kept me constantly thinking of po(
, Halls unaccountabc absence, with many
fear that he nj sht have fallen into the han,
ed oiJnan OF AntcJuera,an not few reproacl
e. es tor my having, perhaps, too easily re.il
pushed my search for him.
These thoughts completely obIitcratcd an
az sense oi my own immediate danger: and
vas about to drop asleep, when somethin
We moist, that oozed about nv neck and fac.
st, aroused me. >tarted-fullv awakcin m,
y: mcnt; and. passing hand across nv chce,
he looked at it in the moonlight.
"Blood. SAID |, Sprngins off the be,
ne while thrill ran through me. | had u,
H. been wounded or cut by my fall: then trs
a whence CAME this terrible moisture: | exam
n med the pillow and tound fhr lower mart n