Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-24

Q possessing but little more sense Or reason than
the horses they guided.
Seven long, tedious days went by, and had
struggled thus fur without coming in contact
with the wild beasts, savages, robbers or lmpe-
rial soldiers, to within fifteen leagues of my
!, journeys end; when my overtasked energies
could bear me up no longer, and despatching
the most intelligent of my servants to apprise
my wife and family of my situation, | lay down
under the shelter Of shelving rock in one of
the most rugged, desolate mountain passes had
ever seen, but with slight hopes of surviving
till aid should arrive from my friends on the
Uruguay.
! Il was near noon when tho negro departed on
his mission, and as had proni q him freedom
ilasi ten ounces in gold II he rssx'ss my wiis's
fhome that night, knew shat he would Dot lose
a moment, and that might expect relief before
night next day, provided lived till that time !;
which did not seem very probable, as within two
hours was half deirious. The hot blood driven
to the extremitics by the raging fever seemed
like liquid currents of fire while my very vitals
appeared to scorch and to crisp with the subtle
heat, and my whole frame was racked with the
most exquisite torture. @
Twenty times during the afternoon had sent
the remaining slave to the stream which wound
along the bottom Of heravine for water to slake
my burning thirst.
The sun was, perhaps an hour above the hor-
izon, when was suddenly surrounded by a baud
of some twenty fcrooious-looking brigands, who
were travcrsing the mountain pass to the west
ward, in pursuit of train Of mules loaded
with merchandise that had preceded them but
the day previous.
had nothing about me to tempt the robbers
cupidity. As they were rather partial to the
revolutionary party. whose uniform wore, they
offered me no violence, and one Of them even
brought me gourd of water for my slave had
fed at the approach ofthe brigands, and never
saw him afterwards.
But all my entreaties, prayers and promises
of reward were unhoeded. l could not prevail
upon them to remain with me until my friends
should arrive They were intent only upon the
capture and plumber of the mules, and so they
departed, leaving me there alone sick and dy-
ing, in that wild desolate mountain pass.
My scanty supply of water was soon exhaus.
ted, and was raving mad with intolerable
thirst In my phrenzy I tore the bandages from
my wounds on the rocky fragments that formed
my bed; and, oh, how fervently prayed for
death
There lay all that long, horrid night, till it
was daylight again and then sank into a
death-like torpor, rom whioA WIS arouscd b,
heavy weight pressing upon my chest, and my
first glance, as opened my eyes, fell upon the
we'll remembered features of the most deadly
enemy had on earth-Col. Martinus Arcola, ol
the Imperial Army of Brazil.
"By the Cross we are well met, Senior Ray
mondi," spoke the brutal rufian, with his boot
ed heel crushing into my throat till my eyes
seemed bursting from their sockets, and my
black, swollen tongue protrudedfom my mouth
and the wretch laughed in derision of my ter
rible agony, as he continued:
!, " We arc we'll met, l say, Senor Raymond
and doubt not your beautiful bride, the Lady
Inez, of whom you robbed me, will be yer,
grateful when tell her how faithfully l watch
ed over you in your last moments. Come, m,
men, this gallant officer must needs be some
what chilly; gather good supply of this dr..
brushwood, and we will try what effect fire will
have on the disease that seems to be wastin,
: him."
> Fifty bronze-faced ruffians set out obeyiu,
their commanders order, and then after fiv
=, minutes had elapsed, and was placed, all help
y less as was, on huge pile of dry branches,
: understood it oil. The Internal fend was abou
to burn me there alive
would not ask my life of the demon, for wei
knew that it would be unavailing, But, o.
God may never suffer such mental tortur
10 us did while lying there surrounded by thos
: devils in human shape, as thought of all tn
- heart-agony that my wife must suffer when tn
Il revolving details of my dreadful death shoul
- become known to her.
= Once turned my head toward the west
+" catch a glimpse of the setting sun, and tn
III next moment was insensibe. 1t was not Ion
that I remained thus; for was aroused agai
by the quick rattle of pistol shots, the clash {
steel. the wild batte-shouts, and the dyin
screams Of strong men in their horrid deatl
ID agony.
al All around me beheld vision of gallar
N mon, led on by slight grlish figure in tt
10 light blue frock, gold embroidered vest, ar
Iy plumed cap of the Southern Guaehas, VIII
10 mounted upon superb horse, black as nigh
r. sped here and there, shouting our battle-cry
IN i" Mueron los Impaiaistos, in which she WI
his joined by her hundred followers who hurl'
n themselves upon the doomed ruf6ans in whil
to wind of cleaning steel.
70 The last wretch was slain, and the lovely W
n man knelt beside me her arms were about n
neck, her warm kiss was upon my cheek, as 8
nd breathed in gentle tone the words, 81 My Hu
ur band! :"
of 1t was my wife--my own angel lnez. s
DIV had ridden on in advance of more than 70
ng hundred men, with only hundred who cou
ct, keep pace with her, and--I was saved
be -------------
WIND AND WATER.
on THEIR FFFECTs ON CLIMATES.