Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-28


gust arrived, and now the old gipseys prophecy
tell upon my mind with a thousand fears But
my comrades again laughed at me formy super
itltlon, and ON the second arose and resolved
TO be gay. If was not so at least had tho
appearance, and the day passed on without my
assassination taking place. was walking on
The parade in the evening as the detachment of
hundred men was proceeding to the out-posts.
then thought that if the hag had predicted my
death taking place on the fifth instead of the
second there would have been some chance, as
1t was then my turn to lead the piquet "to the
field of heads" as the regiment termed that
spot; but as it was, two officers and to 90 there
before me. The drum beat, and the men stood
under arms when it was announced to us that
had been suddenly taken i'll. Lieutenant NJ
was asked next, But scarcely had lie mounted
his horse when it bounded so violently that the
experienced horseman was thrown, and remain
ed senselcss Oh the ground. 1t now came my
turn. | confess | felt rather uncomfortable.
The prophecy, felt assured. was not false.
sciibbled my will, gave up my effects into the
hands of my colonel (not forgetting the fifty du-
cats owing to the hag in case Of what she pre-
dicted taking place,) took q tender farewell of
my friends and comrades, and set off to the
"feld of heads
1t was very dark night, and we expected
severe ssrm before long. The whole riquct
was very well armed, each man having sword,
a brace Of pistols, and short gun; they wore
helmets and breast plates, and were mounted
on magnificent horses, quite prepared for an
attack from the Turks, who usually made their
appearance between twelve and one o'clock.
This time passed, and already began to blush
at my own fears, when cry of Allah" fell
upon my eur like thunder, and in few mo-
mcnts we were surrounded by n superior forcc
of the detcsted " headmen" All our firearms
were immediately discharged, but without effect,
and in less than five minutes our force was over
powcrcd--there was a fatal unanimity-we all
fyll myself received severe sabre-cut on my
forehead and shoulder, and fell under my horse,
Knowing well how vain the resistance would be,
| lay quite STILL concealed by my noble Arabian
stecd, which had been wounded as well as my
self; and there, to my sorrow, plainly heard
my foes convcrsing together in the Turkish Ian
guage, which understand although cannot
speak it, also saw Low they went round to
g every body's body and cutting off their
heads, counted them, not as hcods, but as du-
cats, as they threw them into bags ready pro-
yided. After having searcht d all over the field,
they stood in a circle, and each told the officer
how many heads he had in his bag.
i" One Of yos. said shisslistle crookea cpl
um-ca.ing individual (the ofiecr,) "one of you
is cheating. There is a head wanting; there
should be hundred, and there is only ninety
nine Which Of you is rogue!' -
None of the Turks replied and the leader
told them that TIL. best way of finding out if
there were rogues among them, was to search,
which prudent advice they followed and while
walking about, one of them trod upon my
horse, it made y conyulsiye movement and
reed me. Close to me was the body OF Il Turk,
Immediately put on his turban, and walked as
well as | could across the field, to a marso over
grown with weeds, behind which | concealed
myself. Here, from loss of blood and the expo
sure of my wounds, tainted, and when awoke
from my swoon could not rise crawling on
my legs and arms, however, soon reached the
battlefield, and there I beheld ninety-nine Of
the brayest men that ever graced my country,
lying hcadless while but very few Turks were
sacrificed. AT length | gathered my utmost
powers, arose with an effort, and was crossing
the field, when | beheld Il Turk of gigantic size,
who, drunk with opium, had spent the night
on the g field Of heads" He approached me
while scarcely could stand firm, and draw
ing his scinetar, bade me stand still
Let me put back your shirt collar" cx-
claimed he, with utmost sang fold, as he pre-
pared to place me in an attitude best fitted to
strike my head off at a blow. "There Now
stand still, and it will soon be over! " Unable
to defend myself, stood resigned to my fate
but sudden rccollecting that had purse about
me, offered it to him. "Ill have that and
your head too was the civil reply. | offered
him my watch and some ornaments | carried
about me. "Thosc will have and your head
too, was all he deigned to utter; and these
would most probably have been the last words
I should have heard in this world, had not my
eve accidently fallen upon my wedding ring;
this recalled me to my senses. The thought of
leaving that lovely being to combat with the
's mighty storm of strife, her beauty-her
ve,-these had attractions in them that made
me resolve not yet to bid last farwell to life.
Whilst my eye vacantly stared around, as if
seeking for aid, it fell upon something that glis-
tened in the girdle of the Turk. He raised
his arm he was about to strike | stopped,
and heard the blade whizzing over my head
through the air and before he had time to re-
new his murderous effort, grasped at the object
in his girdle that had attracted my attention
it was q small iron hammer-and drawing it
forth, arrested his arm with one hand, while.
with the hammer in the other, struck him q
blow on the forehead; he staggered repeat
cd the blow, and uttering curse, he fell to the
ground-dead.
Having strengthened myself with a draught
from one of my companions brandy bottles,
/ crept or walked as could towards the camp
and when it was in view beheld the sun ris.
ing. This recalled to my mind the prophecy Of
of the gipsy, which, but for mere accident
acouM have turned out true-but did not.
For three weeks, lay in the hospital, and
on leaving it, the first person I met was III,