Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-04-29
From the .New York Mercury.
NINA JlRiNfA.
A story Of the Mexican war.
By LIEUT.. b., OF TENNESSEE.

.ueAfco nau pS3n taEeu5 OUT LOT an llats nv
tie place could be found on the road from Vera
Cruz to the City os the Moutezumas, for guer
lllas swarmed 10 every pass dogged our trans
portation and letter trains by day, and sneaked
round our camps BY night--seeking every chance
to slip knife or lance 10 sentinel, raise a
stampede, or do any other damage which their
wild revenge could prompt.
Ia charge Of an escort; | had enoaraped early
enc day in what | deemed safe position, near
the entrance Of the pass Rio Frio. Sly reasons
for encamping so early were double. First.
gathering storm threatened a great annoyance
aud discomfort, such as eFen a soldier viii avoid
when he can with boaor-next, wished TO re-
conuaiter tie pass under cover Of the night, for
| had every reason to suppose that Padre Ja-
ranta, the guerilla priest, with a band, was 10
advance. knowing the pass we'll, intsnle6
10 satisfy myself that j, vas uuoccuTied, before
my train started in tie morning
We had not mere than got fairly settled in
our camp, before the storm came on, and such
a storm as your northern climit can never boast
Of. Rain, thunder and tightening, 10 quslity
full a. fue Jura-oying Byrcn colld have
wished; and, 10 quanti;y, beyond any resscna-
tle man'S desires.
After had seen my men made as eomEorta-
bic as possible. seniiueIs stationed at sl APP
Proachable points, aud also taken care to re-
fre>h myself preparatory to hard night ahead,
/ selected favorite man from the guard, and
close wrapped III warm poncho, which also
Aepf the rain from my revolvers, started for tie
pass on foot--for | wished no clsaeEiug hoof
10 be;ray me there. if gperilias were on the
watch.
Tic wind came down cold as ice from Tie
snowy crest os Iztaccihuaii; and / was glad
whcn we got within the pass, stumbling or as
best We coult--for though had means to pro-
duce light, and the Snuggest belt lauteru one
could want, dared not light it. We knew not
at ahsa nsolaept we niight come IN view Of a
ffs1 4srh -ausof lEe enaigys ~ hRsr the qnlek
cry 81 stgue ciUq lasn which lad more than once
Jared unpioasantly on ny ear in tbs stiliaess
OF the hight, from concealed sentinel, ali too
wakeful for my safety.
Bur We moved on for long tiur without
hearing other sounds thaD those made by the
storm or ourselves, anl began as we passed
spot after spot generally known as dangerous,
aud found nothing. 10 wish myself backsin mY
teut, wrapped in uly blanket, aud dreaming Of
my sunny home in Tennessee.
Bat suddenly se heari tramp Of horses ia
The road aLead, and / know in j mcmeai, by
the Jingle Of lhe heavy Bits and spurs that they
were Mexcans.
Whispering to the soldier wiki me to step
aside, as | did, 10 silence, close under the huge
overhanging rock, south of the road, waited
to see what would turn up. The party did no;
seem to be large, aud advanced slowly and
with caution, as indeed was necessary 10 the
dangerous darkness aud condition Of the pass;
and examine the position and condition of my
camp. And my thoughts was to let them pass
in silence; for | knew my men below would give
a good account of them it disturbed, and in-
tended to look further, aud try and examine the
position OF their main body, if it was in the
pass.
But Just as they cana opposite to the spot
where we were standing, the horse of one of
them stumbled, and at the same instant, wo-
mau's voice came, loud and Shrill, screaming in
Spanish for help.
..Bedadi the girl has got her head out of the
blanket'' exclaimed the man whose horse had
stumbled, speaking in andoubted allesian &C.
cent.
lie seemed TO struggle to replace it, while
all the party stopped; BAT the girl screamed all
the louder, and struggled violently.
Pm not lady's man, 10 the recent Vest
Point acceptstion of the word, but could new
er stand still while woman screamed for help.
To open the sliding door of my belt-lauIesn,
and throw full light on the matter, was but an
iustant's work. My poacho was cast aside
quickly; and as cried 10 my man to do bis duty
my revolver dropped one greaser from his sad
die, who Eeined sn escopette to targetlze on me;
and the next instant was tearing the girl from
the arms of the rufiian, who had ali he could
do to hold her. The work for two or three
minutes was busy--how ! got her 10 the ground
| can hardly tell; or how aud my man mana
ged, wthou, any hurt (excepta sabre cut which
be got on the shoulder) to take care of the par
", but in less time than it takes ME to tell it,
il was done. Seven of them lay on the ground;
one rode off in the direction from which l bad
come-to be taken care Of, | hoped, By some
of my seatlnels below.
Tie moment could, looked to the comfort
of the lady, who lay helpless on the ground;
for she had been tied head and foot, and wrap
in great coarse pcncho, only fl; for horse
blanket.
took one look at her great black, fearful
eyes, half hopeful; haif-expressiye of terror
have seen them ever since 10 dreams--and then
cut her loose, and helped her to her feet, while
my man was giving the coup de grace to one or
| two of The Mexicans who yet kicked.
And whilo this was going Oh, l heard the
claiter Of troop at full speed; aud the next
noment We were completely surrounded BY as
hard a looking set OF ''greasers" asevcr carried
lance 10 hand. Resistance was helpless; but
was about to try the last shot in my revslser
| on yillainous-looking old wretch, who seemed