Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-05-12
fIlaltealrs.
A N4Ehtlwith-1he- 1 he -GaeriIIa. =
q soENE N MREx1oo. Z -.

Il a
\ During the winter of 1851, myself and
| friend were being guided through the dens
masses of cactus wood, aau6ng the moutltai
passes to which Alvarez has attracted somucl
attention, and which Surrounded the city o
Acapulco, on the Pacific coast of Mckee,
We were welt mounted and equipped, b1i
were compelled to proceed slowly on on
routes for the reason that our native guild VA
| onhteot SO that by the time night had en-
shrouded Us in the deep gloom SO peculiar I,
| tropical forest, We. were anxiously on the
look out for ranch light, or listening for th,
barking of a dozen ours that invafiScly sur
\ round a Mexican hut. We had proceeded
I perhaps a-tii]s IN the deepest darkness, when
7 to to'ouf,sdrpuss came 10 afarge corral land
immediately after to the ranch to which ii
}! WAS attached. -..-t .ii3-
| We had no time to reconnoitre. for we
were Immediately surrounded by "a score or
| more of the most stalWart, feroei Gus lookiair
men 1T had been our fortune, OF misfortune to
meet IN that country, Their attentions were
Tar more g ger than delicate, for We were half
urged and half pulled off our horses. our va
iises' our pistols aud bo~ies taken from US,
and ourselves pushed in the hut in less time
than it would taks a Yankee landlord, pass
the compliments of the season. The, glance
| caught as l entered the hut, of about twenty
horses in the corral, saddied and hridled with
sort OF a cavalry look, and evidently at
home after long days ride, in noway served
to decrease my apprehensions b ut my fears
were put on a sure basis when, after entering
the hut, passed close to the guide, who look
ed Significantly at me, and whispered tho Que
word dreaded by ali loyal Mexicans.
: Guerillasr
AS soon rs we were seated in the corner of a
large room, ventured to inquire of nv friend.
in Whisper, what he thought of our situation;
to which lie answered in his accustomed
clearness, and, as thought, with considerable
show of probability,ItIr that we were s.in a devil
of a scrape!" We however, concluded, To
" trust TO luck" aud acquiesce for the tmc in
anything that might be done, sage concIu,
sion for two Yankees amid twenty or more
athletic robbers .'-1 7.S2 " III
The Guerias had evidently had a long
ride, and Judged had met with success. as
they were good natured and laughed and
talked with each otier necessarily, while the 4,
''Provisoner" was preparing their supper
don't boast of great GOODNESS in the hour
OF danger, but confess that the br1ied chick
en- end fried eggs mad" such a sweet smell in
my nostriIs that tie pecuariry OF our D ,siliou
was temporarily for often hy me, Will. friend
Charley was absolutely grinning aud rubbing
duced on US by smell of the ea,ables was
evidently amusing to our hosts, or captors, l
may call :hem, the apparent leader of whom
addressed us, as the viands were placed on the
table
"Senors must be hungry after their long
ride, will they eat with us Z"
The manner of the man must have convey
ed to Charley what he was about to saw. for
he was at the table, and had an egg on his
plate, before the conclusio. of the sentence.-
AS for me, / was more di2nfed and as |
seated myself leisurely at the table I began
thanking him in Spanish while Charley was
eating in good Yank, style.
We ask no thanks Senor," said the Chief:
''you are our prisoners we want your money
and your horses; at daylight you may go free
with what we leave you." ma. ST..
And, strange as it may seem, his deliberate
manner of telling us that we were to BE skinn-
ell and turned loose in a strange forest, seemed
to please Charley tremendously, for he burst
into loud gutf4w, and laid lack in his chair
with mouth full enough of chicken 10 choke
horse; but at a severe look from him, he
s1aightened up; the large white grinders
closed heavily on the dainty food, and for at
least, a minute he looked melancholy
After supper we were stripped of our best
clothes, and received in exchange all the old
ShI VIC cOulNI ueSlEe. JuF money was
taken from US lat least three hundred good
doIfars.) and we were then allowed to resnme
our places in the corner. Charley quietly
stretched himself ont, and to nv utter aston.
iShment, was soon as soundIy ale p as # he
We're the sole proprietor of "Inarble hall, :"
or at least dwclt therein. Not even the sweet
strains OF guitar, played by girl of uucom
mon beauty, whom the Chief called "Uletta,'
could rouse him, although had he seen her l
absolutely believe. he would have ioined the
troupe, married into the family, and eventually
have generated a jolly race OF thieves.
IS The GueriIlas sermrd TO care 10 more for
US, after they had pilfered all our valuab!es,
than If We had been SO many ours. We were
apparently Welcome to come and go when and
where we pleased, and after the guitar ceased
they gradually dropped down around the fire
and soon fell asleep
Feeling no particular desire to have much
more TO do with the fellows, /: occurred to m.
that we might well depart noiselessIv, as .
run the risk Of some change of programme in
the morning, SO, shaking Charley who was on
his feet IN an instant, l suggested the plan of
escape, to which he readily assented. Hastily
stepping over two or three sIeepers, I came To
the rough table, on which the chief had unsya.
riiy left our pile, of money. How quickly, vet
noiselessly, it was transferred to my pouch. is
a matter left to the readers imagination. ON
issuing from the hut, found Charley ptepaF.
ing the horses, and were soon iu readiness for
immediate departure. ~ .
"Fve desh good mind to go back and
steal some OF my own clothes J" said Charley:
''that was an overcoat of--'s best make.''
l protested however, and be, good easy
soul ! submitted.