The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-04-28
A w1s.'. Devotion. BIZ GEO. s. RAYMOND.


A Wlfs's Devotion. BY GEO. g. Raymond.
The long and desperate struggle which hai
for years been carried on between the Imperia
Government Of Brazil and the revolted southern
province was drawing to q close and |, who
for nearly five years had been almost constant,
on the wing, on horseback, in the patriotic ser
vice, was on my way to join my little Brazilian
wife to whom l had been united some five
months previously, and from whose side had
been summoned within three hours after on,
marriage to lead my command against body
Of Don Pedro Seguado's Lancieros, who were
committing depredations i'll the neighborhood
had been severely wounded in the side and
shoulder, and what with the exposure in on,
wild, uncomfortable camp, the entire lack OF
proper medical and surgical skill, and the slow
fever which had for three weeks been consuming
me- my iron constitution had given way at last
and was as near dead as a man could well be
and maintain his seat in his saddle.
My home. OF rather that of my wife, was on
the banks of the beautiful Uruguay, on the ex-
trene western limits of the Brazilian Empire
and my way thither led across the serried peaks
and through the wild passes of the Southern
Brazilian Andes, region swarming with every
species of wild beasts, fierce savages, murtlerous
bandlttl, VINO killed tor mere pastime, and bands
Of Imperial troops, more savage than brutes,
Indians, or robbers.
Pleasant, very don't you think it was ? for
an invalid scarce able to keep his seat in the
saddle, and accompanied by only two negro
slaves possessing but little more sense or reason
than the horses they guided.
Seven long, tedious days went BY, and had
struggled on thus far without coming in con-
tact with the wild beasts, savages, robbers, or
Imperial soldiers, to within fifteen leagues of
my journeys end when my overtasked ener-
gies could bear me up no longer, and dispatch
ing the most intelligent Of my servants to ap-
prise 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 nv friends
on the Uruguay.
1t was near noon when the negro departed on
bis mission, and, as had promised him freedom
and ten ounces in gold if he reached nv wifes
home that night, knew he would not lose o
moment, and might expect relief before night
next day, provided lived till that time which
did not seem very probable, as within two
hours l was half delirious. The hot blood
driven to the extremities by the raging fever
seemed like leaping 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 l had
sent the remaining slave to the stream which
wound along the bottom of the ravine for water
to slake my burning thirst.
The sun was, perhaps an hour above the
horizon, when was suddenly surrounded by a
band ofsome twenty ferocious looking brigands,
who were traversing the mountain-pass to the
westward in pursuit of a train of mules loaded
with merchandise that had preceded them but
the day previous.
l had nothing about me to tempt the rob-
oers cupidity. As they were rather partial to
the revolutionary party, whose uniform wore,
they offered no violence, and one of them even
brought me gourd of water for my slave had
he'd at the approach of the brigands, and I
never saw him afterward
But all my entreaties, prayers and promises
oteward were unheeded. l could not prevail
on them to remain with me till my friends
should arrive. They were intent only upon the
capture and plunder Of the mules, and so they
departed, leaving me there alone sick and dying,
IN that wild, desolate mountain pass.
My scanty supply Of water was soon ex-
hausted, and I was raving mad with intolerable
thirst. In my frenzy tore the bandages from
my half closed wounds, beat my head against
the rocky fragments that formed my bed and,
Oh, how prayed for death!
There lay all that long, horrid night till it
was daylight again; and then / sank into a
death-like torpor, from which / was aroused by
heavy weight pressing on my chest, and my
nrst glance, as opened my eyes, fell upon the
well-remembered features of the most deadly
enemy l had on earth-Col. Martinus Arcola,
ol t1e Imperial army Of Brazil.
BY the Gross we are well met, Senor Ray
mondo," spoke the brutal ruffian, with his
booted heel crashing into my throat till my
eyes seemed bursting from their sockets, and
ny black, swollen tongue protruded from my
mouth, and the wretch laughed in derision Of
ny terrible agony as he continued:
we are well met l say, Senor Raymondo,
1nd doubt not your beautiful bride, the Lad,
laez, OF whom You robbed me- will be very
grateful when I tell her how faithfully watched
over you in your last moments. Come, my
men, this gallant officer must needs be some
Shat chilly; gather good supply Of this dry
orushwood, and we will try what effect fire will
him." w W "%'''A"e
Fifty bronze-faced rufians set about obeying
Melr commanders order, and then after five
minutes had elapsed. and was placed al help