Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-15

close it up, and ere the miners had arrived at a
safe distance, the howl Of disappointment from
their foes, warned them that they would be
sought in all directions. Added to this, the
dark masses of clouds which lay piled up in the
west at dark, now swept over the whole sky,
and began to blaze with lightnings, and peal
with thunders.
&C Thunder neow," said Nathan, "ef this
amt leetle tough. It's nifty onlucky, emmy
how. Half an hour more O. the clear dark
would jest one it all car. But faint to be
helped, nohow Hooray thar's the bidn' :"
pointing little to the right of the course they
were then pursuing, as vivid fash of light
ming lighted up the outlines of an old castle.
j." Is that the old castle youv been wishing
to find ! " exclaimed Thodore Doke, why
we're safe tor that at any rate"
"Tlnt SO nifty close as yer may think, y re-
piled Nate. "These levels is darnation deceit
full, specially by lightnin' light It's more'n
two miles to that thing meow. Thunderatio nj
A blaze of lightning that flooded the Who'll
PLAIN with light, revealed to the astonshed mi
ners band of mounted savages, doubtless de-
tachment from the army that surrounded them,
less than two hundred yards to the right pur-
suing the same course and little ahead.
What can we do asked the captain in an
anxious tone.
Fright ahead" said old Nate, and none o.
yer blattin' neow-nothin but pullin' ont for
the bildin'.
4" But the Indians are ahead
I" They haint seen us yit, you may depend
ont, and eff we can only git about twenty rods
more afore they see us, we're all right in spite
O. the cusses"
On they went. To most Of the party, it
seemed like rushing to certain destruction, but
aside from their confidence in the old hunter,
they despaired to turn any way. And 50, on
they went--tIll another flash revealed the same
party, halted, and on the watch in all direc-
tions, at greater distance from them-but
about equi-distant from the old ruins. The In.
dians discovered them this time, and with loud
whoops to call together the different bands of
their savage companions, they dashed after
them.
The ruins were surrounded by an enclosure,
over which the Indians could not ride, and as
the party of whites were just on tho point of
entering this through the only accessible place,
when discovered, the savages had double the dis
tance to traverse on horseback, that the whites
had on foot.
"Neow boys is yer time" said Nathan,
"weve been through too many tight places to-
night, to give out when we're 50 near safe
place." and the old hunter pressed on at a speed
that would have done credit to a much younger
man.
" 1t was for dear life, and they all run as few
have run before or since.
In the intervals between the flashes of light
ming it was pitchy darkness, and although they
could hold their course with so good guide,
they were unable to form any idea of the DIS
tance they traversed. To their excited minds it
seemed as though the space was not half passed
when they heard the clatter of horses hoofs be-
hind them. On they hurried at their utmost
speed, and still the galloping Of their foes came
nearer and nearer with fearful rapidity. Was
it possible that they were going to be overtaken
after all Nearer-with startling distnctness,
nearer-till the loud breathing of the horses
seemed in their very midst, and they were ready
to give ap in despair-when another flash of
lightning revealed the entrance to the castle just
before them, and the heavy oaken door, barred
together with iron bars, and bolted with iron
bolts, swung open to admit them. They had
but just time to enter and close the door in all
haste, when with yell of bafled rage, the saw
ages galloped up, and wheeled around on either
side, to cut off every possibility of escape.
Three hearty cheers from the captive band,
safe at least for season, woke tho night air
mid the peals of thunder, reverborating through
the old walls of the castle, and echoing over the
plain.
The whole body of savages who had separa-
ted for the search, now camc together again,
and completely invested the miners in their for
tifcatlon.
The fortifcation in which they found them
selves, was the ruins of chapel in an ancieut
presidio. These presidios were built in tho
PALMER days Of the Mexican Republic, being
square enclosure, " containing about two hun
dred yards in each front, formed Of weak wall
made Of mud brick" The walls of the chanel
itself were composed of the same material.