Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-09-30
= preston of hatred, he exclaimed, "Es un Fran

Hp -
village, been required to carry forage TO the bar
racks at Madrid.
4 know this man. continued the peasant, 'he
- tie same TO whom | delivered the forage and
why gave me the receipt for it. | stood beside
Tim nearly an hour, and | know his face we'll
Wien | saw him arrive, l said to my comrades
III: is the French officer to whom | delivered my
Forage.
Castanos probably saw the truth, but he was
aUcJle and generous enemy. 1t was not by wan
.g..!y shedding blood that he wished 10 cement the
ei.fce of Spanish liberty.
Castanos possibly perceived that the prisoner
WIS not a Russian, bu: he dreaded the cruel treat
ment to which he would be exposed if he were
Iiscovered to be a Frenchman. He suggested that
lie should be allowed to continue his Journey; but
Il this a hundred menancing voices were raised.
But" asked Castanos, "wou!d i. be prudent to
expose ourselves to the risk of a rupture with
Russia, whose neutrality we have so earnestly So
.ic..edr'
NO." replied the officers; "but let it be proved
that this man is really a RusSian.n
Leckinski heard all this, for he understood Span
,sh. He was led out and locked up in a miserable
~hamber, which resembled a dungeon in the most
fearful days of the inquisition.
At the moment of his arrest, Leckinski had not
tasted food since the afternoon of the proceeding
ny, and when the door of his prison was closed
upon him, eighteen hours had elapsed since he had
I~artaAen of nourishment. Add to this fatigue and
anxiety he had suffered | in the interval, and it can
not be a matter Of surprise that he thew himself
II d state of utter exhaustion on a mattress which
lay on the ground.
He had been about two hours asleep, when his
chamber door slowly opened, and some one ap-
~nEoached his couch.
A hand was held before the flame of the lamp
10 shade the light from his eyes, and when the hand
vas withdrawn, Leckinski felt some one tap him
on the shoulder, and a sweet toned female voice
alter the words, "Voulez vous souper"
The young Pole, who was suddenly reused from
Las slumbers by the glare of the light, the contact
afthe hand, and the words Of the young female,
missed himself on his couch, and with his eyes
.carcely open, exclaimed in German-"What do
7ou say!'
"Send him his SUPPER said Castanos, on hear
ing the result Of his first trial, and then saddle his
horse and let him continue his journey. He is no
Frenchman. How could he keep on the mask
when thus taken by surprise? The thing is i'm
po.sible.n
but Castanps did not exercise undivided autho-
atty.
Leckinski's supper was sent to him, it is true,
but he remained in his dungeon till morning. He
was then conducted to a place whence he could
Gee the mutilated remains of ten Frenchmen, who
vas brutality murdered by the peasantry Of Trux-
4.io. There, for the space Of a whole day, he was
left 70 contemplate death in its most horrible
form.
lie was surrounded by snares-watched by
eyes and ears eager to watch any unguarded word
og gesture.
at length, at the expiration of several hours Of
cruel trial, he was reconducted to his prison to re-
feet at leizure on tho horror of his situation.
Gentlemen" said general Castanos to his bro |
Their officers, II am as fully sensible as you of the
Importance Of preventing communication between
the different French commanders at present in
Spain, but in the position in which this officer stands
we cannot treat him as a spy on the mere asser-
ton Of a peasant. The man may be mistaken
He may be deceived by a resemblance, and in that !
case we should be murderers. That is not the
character in which we ought to show ourselves.D
1t was a cheering relief to Leckinski to return
10 his prison. For nearly twelve hours he had
his eyes gibbets and mutilated bodies
Though his mind was haunted by horrid images
and gloomy forebodings, he nevertheless fell into
a profound sleep, for exhausted nature demanded
:epose. Amidst the dead slumber in which all his
senses were lulled, the door was again softly OPEN
I'd, a female form approached his couch, and the
same sweet voice which addressed him on the
night, said in a half whisper-"rise and
ollow me-you are saved-your horse is wait
ng."
At the words you are saved, Leckinski started
Up, but Immediately recovering his presence of
mind, he replied as he had done before. in Ger
man. by tbs question, "What do you says"
On being informed of the result of this new
emptation, Castanos urged his immediate liberia
but his wish was again overruled.
LecIinski passed another miserable night. At
aylight the next MOI ming he was awakened BY :
our men, one of whom was the peasan, who al
sged he had seen him in Madrid. They had come
. conduct thin before a sort of court, composed Of
ne officers of Castanos' staff. They addressed to
i'm the most bitter menaces, but, firm in his reso- !
'tion, he appeared not to understand ono word
icy said. 1
When a~rraigned before his jedges, he inquired ,
German for his interpreter. i,
He was brought in and the examination was ,
,mmenced. :,
He was asked what was the object of his jour =
~.
He Yen1ied nv showino his desnatcbos from tho y