Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-10-05
NJ | s C ELL A N Y.
A NIGHT WITH rue GUERILLAs
A SCENE IN MEXICO.

The clouds darkening northern skies
While these all serene;
The snow in northern tillies lies,
While troPic shores are green
During the winter Of 1851, myself and
friend were being guided through the dense
masses of q cactus wood, among the noun
tain passes to which Alvarez has recently
attracted so much attention, and which sur.
rounded the city of Acapulco, on the Pacific
coast Of Mexico We were well mounted
shd equipped, but were compelled to pro
eeed slowly in our route, for the reason that
our native guide was on foot, SO that by the
time night bad enshrOdsd n IL tAee d dsfRa
aExiously on the lockout for a ranch light,
or listening for the. barking Of the dozen
ours which invariably surround Mexican
;hut We had proceeded perhaps mile in
:ths deepest darkness, when to our surprise
i've came to large corrall, and immediate
:ly after to the rancho to which it was at
.tached.
Il We had no time to reconnoitre for we
. were Immediately surrounded by score of
the most stalwart, ferocious-lookiDg men it
! had yet been our fortune, or illfortune, to
meet in that country. Their attentions
, were far more eager than delicate, for we
were half urged, half pulled from our
horses, our vaiises, pistols and bowies taken
from us, and ourselves pushed along into
the hut, IN less time, than it would have
taken Yankee landlord to have passed
the compliments Of the season The gla .ce
] I caught as / entered the hut, at about
twenty horses in the corral, saddled and bri-
4 died with sort of cavalry look, and evil
/ IDENTIFY at home after a long days ride, in
no way served to decrease the apprehen-
/ sions but my fears we're put upon sure
basis, when, after entering the hut, passed
close to the guide who looked significantly
st me and whispered the one word dreaded
Of all loyal Mexicans
Il: 'GueriIlss
/ As soon as we were seated In the corner
| If the large room, ventured to inquire of
my friends, IN whisper, what he thought
| Of our situation to which he answered, with
f his accustomed cleatness, ard as ! thought
With q considerable show Of probability, that
we we're in d. of scrspep We how.
ever concluded to trust to lack and to &C.
quiesce for the time in anything that might
be done !; . sage conclusion for two Yam
KEGS amid twenty or more athletic rob
bers.
The GueriIlas had evidently had q long
ride. aud Judged had met with success, .:
they were good natured and laughed and
talked with each other necessarily, while ID,
'prsvisioner' was preparing supper
don't boast Of great deal Of GOODNESS
IL the hour Of danger; but l must confess
THAT the proiled chickens and fried egg
made such sweet scent in my nostrils
that the pecnliarity Of our position was tenn
pSDrarily forgotten by me, while my friend
!. tiharley was absolutely grinning and rub
Hng his hands ike glutton. The impres
SION produced on rs By smell Of the eat
sbles, was evidently amusing 70 our hosts
hs captors,' may call them, the spparen
leader Of whom addressed Us, IS the Wand
we're being placed upon the table:
Seniors must be hungry after their ride
will they eat with usP
The manner Of the man must have cor
seyed to Charley what be was about % SAY
before he actually uttered the words, TOR 2
&as ct the table, and had an egg on hi
Plate, before the conclusion Of the sentenc'
a. for me, was more digni6edi and Is
seated myself leisurely at the table, bega
tSanking him in bad Spanish, while Charlie
Vas eating in good Yankee style.
.:.We ask no thanks Senior, said the CHIEF
sou are eur prisoners We want your mol
: sy and want your horses at daylight 70
qsay 80 free with what We leave you
land strange as it may seem, his deiine
: ste manner Of telling Us that We we're to
1 lkinned and turned loose in strange 70
! "a, seemed to please Charley tremendousl
! Or be burst into = loud gutaw, add la
: heck in bis chair with a mouth full enoug
|, d chicken 70 choke horse; but At seve
l6ok from me, he Strengthened up the iarl
white grinders closed heavily on the dain
fdod, and for a. least minute ne looks
nelancholy
!Afssr supper We we're stripped Of eur b