Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-04-28

In Daghestan, young Lesghan chief, being
severely wounded during one of the frequent
razzlas OF the Russians, took refuge in rum
ed sakli, III order to apply bandages to his
wounds. While thus employed, he was dis
coveged by party Of dlsmounted dragons,
who immediately gave chase on his taking flight.
Being fleet of foot, for short time he outran
them, during which time, such OF them as had
their carbines loaded, fired at him Intellectually.
Having crossed one of the flexible bridges
common in that country, and which was over
rapid torrent at the foot of a mountain, the fu-
gltye finding himself unable to proceed much
further, and having time to put his arms in or
der, stood at bay under a projecting rock.-
With yells of delight, and upiited sabrcs, the
Russians approached the bridge. The fore
most nearing him cried, "Yied dog" "Not
while have twelve lives at my grdle," cried
the hardy mountaincer The Russians in the
rear laughed loudly at the boast but he in ad-
vance fell dead pierced through and through by
a bullet. nearly at the feet of the Lesghlun.-
The second soldier stumbled over his dead
comrade, and as he rose, received a shot which
caused him TO fall severely wounded. The
next, seeing the same weapon, which had twice
been discharged, still pointed, rushed on, but
to the surprise of the Russians, a third shot
was fired at him untouched, however, he was
about to cut down the Lesghian, when fourth
discharge scattered his brains on the rocky pa
rapet, and his lfeless body tumbled into the
torrent beneath. Three of the Russians had
now fallen. "What devil of a pistol is this that
speaks so often?" cried the survivors to each
other The Lesghian stood firm, merely fold
ing his peisse Of sheepskin around his left arm
ready TO receive a blow, a precaution not nm
needed, since now two Russians abreast were
on the point of assaing him. Certain of their
prey, these advanced more cautiously than the II
predecessors. This time two deliberate snois
brought them down right and left each fell
pierced near the region of the heart. The re-
naming soldiers were amazed. The Lesghian
faint with the loss of blood, and feeling his
strength fast ebbing, now drew forth another
pstol-a movement unobserved by the enemy
and rapidly fred three shots at the group of
Russians, some fifty yards distant at the other
end of the bridge. Owing TO his sight being
now dim, only one shot took effect woundlng
one OF the dragons in the shoulder Let US
! hy," they cried, "it is the Evil Spirit of the
mountsins-he would kill our whole army
| Accordingly they precipitatey fled, just the
Lesghlan sunk down exhausted at the foot OF
the rock. At distance they attempted to look
| back. at hath vanished IN the mist" cried the
superstitious Muscovites.
! The Lcsghian chIof was succored by some of
! ms o"H pcoplt, anu GIG ItNpNtitu Hull lis
hurt, as did the Russian. At his bridal feast,
some four months after, the pistols, which were
pair of Colts revovers, and were a git from
an American traveller Captain K, to III
| youthful hero of the Caucasus, were handed
around amid the general bencdictlons of the
party. The bride Is slld even to have kissed
them, saying, "Ah my Dehemct, were all tie
brave Clrcasslans armed like thee, there would
not be 81 many fearful maidens and bereaved
widows in Dughrsian.
The Russian prisoner, soon rcCouced, by
| kind treatment, to his position, has haG the crue
horse hair removed from his heel, and has Otter
cleanScd and loaded those identical specimens
of the fatal weapons destined to effect such
revolution in the wart,r" of the world
The story of the devils pistol was long tol,
anon. the simple Russian soldiery, when con
vcrSluG on their weary march the winding
column assembled some ln,ermlnable mountain
or when the grateful snmouver 4kettlel gav
promises of tea al the 81 'se of ther days jour
ncy. Now the partial introduction Of the urI
among the officers, has, IN some degree, dlssl
pated the tclllu effect nf the story but luau
sull devouty believe the Lrsghan chet was n
other than the Prince ot Darkness himself, on
on sporting expedition, for the express pul
pose OF bagglng Russian soldiers