Washington telegraph., 1855-05-09
A Wife's Dew tion .
BT GEO. S. RAYMOND.

The long and desperate struggle which
had for years been carried on between the
Imperial Government Of Brazil and the re-
yolted southern provinces was drawing to a
close: end /, who for nearly FIVE years had
been almost constantly on the wing, or. what
amounted TO about the same thing, on horse
back, in the patriotic service. was on my
way to join my little Brazilian wife to
whom had been united some FIVE months
previously, and from whose side had been
summoned within three hours after our mar
rage to lead my command against body
of Don Pedro Seguado's LancieyoS, who
were committing depredations in the neigh
borhOOd
had been severely wounded in the side
and shoulder. and what with the exposure
in our 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 | vas as near
dead as a man could well be and maintain
his seat in the saddle.
My home, or rather that of nv wife, was
on the banks of the beautiful Uruguay. on
the extreme 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
swarmlng with every species of wild beasts,
herce savages. murderous banditti, who kill
ed for 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 contact with the wild beasts savaces, rob-
bers, or Imperial soldiers, to within fifteen
leagues Of my journeys end; when my
oVertasked energies could bear me up no
longer, and dispatching the most intelligent
OF my servants TO apprise my wife of nv
situation. lay down under the shelter of a
shelving rock in one Of the most rugged,
dessolate mountain passes l had ever seen.
out with slight hopes of surviving till aid
shosld arrive from my friends on the Uru-
gGay-
1t was near noon when the negro depart
ed on bis mission, and, as I had promised
him freedom and ten ounces of gold if he
reached n'y Wlte's home that night, knew
ne would not lose moment. and 7 migbt
expect relIei before night next day, provided
L lived till that time; which did not seem
very probable. as within two hon-s T uas
half delirious. The hot blood driven 70 ,b,
extremIties BY the raging fever seemed Ike
leaplng liquid currents of fire; while nv
very vltals appeared to scorch and to crisr
with the subtle heat. and my whole frame
was racked with the most exquisite torture
Twenty times during the afternoon hac
sent the remaining slave TO the stream whicl
wound along the bottom of the ravine fo
water to slake my burning thirst.
The sun was, perhaps. an hour above tn,
horizon, when l was suddenly surroundec
9y a band Of some twenty ferocious-lookins
origands. who were traversing the mountain
pass to the westward in pursuit of train o
mules loaded with merchandise that had
preceded them but the day previous.
had nothing about me to tempt the rob
ceTs cupldty- As they were rather par
aai to the revolutionary party, whose uni
urn L wore. they offered me no violence
'"a one OF them even brought me gourt