Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1856-12-04

shouted
"A treasure! treasure! | found i'll
found ~
The rest Immediately gathered round, and
forming seml-clrcle, began to throw up the
earth with spades. Soon one Of the di.gcrs
met with an obstacle; all sprang forward at
once, and the iorcmos, graspcd cold, hlrlrss
hand; then an arm appeared; then head
then whole dragoon; two three four
the entire detachment. They were, indeed
all together; the Spaniard had told the truth (;
all, all with their throats cut.
l cannot describe the asronishmcnt-the
rage of the soldiers. examined the counc-
nances of our hosts. Nunez was smoking a
cigar, and gnled upon the scene with all the
indifference of a gruve-digger eating his
breakfast. The boy was stirring up the fire,
and, upon tho stone beach, the lawny Alcald,
wrapped IN his brown cloak, moionIrss aHd
stern, looked like an uncicnt statue, brouzed
with smoke.
In an instant the house was filled with "A
goons, and rcsounded with imprccatlons aud
mcnaces. Had it not been for my entrcaties,
the AIcaid his brother, aud the little boy
would have been buried alive IN the place from
which the dead soIdIery had just been taken.
AIimy efforts were hardly sufficient to restrain
them until the Colonel was awnkened-
fhcre IN the kitchen ITSELF and in sight of the
heap OF dead bodies, the Spanlards were ar
rnl.ned before u kind OF eXtcmpuraneous
court martial.
Who murdered these dragoons?
The Alcald delsncd no reply.
who murdered these dragOOns'
The boy was slleut
Wee to take my oath that did not do
ii, you would not believe me; said Nunez,
cuImly;-It was |,
Inou none:'
Yes. Tue Ere ch found brandy aud be-
came intoxicated, and cut their thruats. -
Last nisht this child saw them all asleep up
stairs; aud this morning lie helped me to
bury them. But whist with tuls knllc,
(und here he drew forth, an enormous naroja
Two feet in length Il avenged my country.
HcrIco was here with NY brotncr. II crime
has been committed, | alone am guilty.
'UOmJ,c! cried the old Alclid, sterrlv !;
ii was 10y my Command the deed was dono.'
Then making an cllr 10 rrsc, he continued:
Put W. bolh to death; and i%t cytty true
Spanlurd io!oa our cAImpIc!
'AIca'd, SAID tue Coioucl, yawuin-, yon
shall be hung, botn you and your brother.
So | thought, replied Nuncz,
A liite beyond l'oiquc"ada, OF the road
to Nal'adohd, stands large cross, surround
ed by grove OF trees; this spot was chosen
as the place OF execution Attended by All
escort Of fifty men, the AIcald march, for
ward with proud ar and firm step, not
wlthstandlng the pain ol his equity :ooL -
Nnucz supported INN, and PcIico, faithful
even to DEATH followed his masters, bcaIin.
the ladder and cords. When the procession
reached the foot OF the cross, the AlcuId fell
upon his knees. Whilst hc was engaged in
prayer, Nuncz approached Captain Dawn,
who was charged with the direction oi tie
execution.
1t is my older brother; the Alcud Of this
town. by this double title owe hun respect
and honor until death. FORBID, | bcseccE
you, that any of your men should lay hands
upon Don Jose Nunez dc Qulu,ana.'
Arrange matters as YOU please, sail TIE
captain; but DO qmck; don't like such
expeditions.
Nuacz cubruccd lis brother, and then
hung hlm.
But how Nunez was to be hung was another
question. Not one Of the soldiers. but
qnaltrr Of an hour before, 50 furious, would
perform the part o: cxecutIoner.
That Is not my trade
never was hangman.'
Ony shoot him, and IT'S all very wel.'
Durln. tins discussion Nnurz stood wait
ing at the top Of the Ladder, aud not under
standing the scrupes Of the suIdisIy, he ciIcd
out, You need not fear; aud pasNlug the
rope around his neck, hc called pclico, who
mounted the ladder and launched hln, as the
saying Is, into eternity.
There were brave soldiers there, but not
single gendarme. Sadly aud silently We re-
turned to Torqucmada, uud PerIco followed,
bearing the ladder.
Why fatigue yourself so:' said to him;
leave that ladder
The boy looked at me, placed the ladder
against a tree, aud began to ascend.
Ncll, What ale you doing now. There's
no one else to be hung
thought my turn had come. replied he,
TRANQUILITY.
No, my little friend; wo do not wish to
hang you
AS God pIenses!'
And he returned to Torquemada with us.
He saw us replace in their graves the poor
old RapnlIere and his twenty-five comrad"s.
Next morning ho was gnne; he had fled,
taking with hiuI the knife of Nuucz
The OCEAN TELEGRAru Tho recent nd-
vices from Liverpool speaks in quite positive
terms OF the formation o company to lay
the telegraph cable acros, tho Atlantic, from