Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-05-23

its banks were lighted up with preternatural
glare. 1t was a wild, pompous, theatrical spec
tacle. The array of soldiers on both sides of
the river, along the dykes, and upon the bridge,
with banners waving, and spear and curass
gancing in the lurid light; the demon fleet,
guided by no human hand, wrapped in flames,
and fitting through the darkness, with irregular
movement, but portentous aspect, at the ca
price of the wind and tide; the death-like ST.
lence of expectation, which had succeeded the
sound of trumpet and the shouts of the SOL
diers; and the weird glow which had supplant-
ed the darkness-all combined with the sense
of imminent and mysterious danger TO excite
and oppress the imagination.
Presently, the Spaniards, as they gazed from
the bridge, began To take heart again. One
after another, many of the lesser vessels drifted
bli IDLY against the raft, where they entangled
themselves among the hooks and gigantic spear
heads, and burned slowly out without causing
my extensive conAagration. Others grounded
m the banks of the river, before reaching their
destination. Some sank in the stream.
Last of all came the two internal spips, sway
ng unsteadily with the current; the pilots, of
oursc as they nearcd the bridge having noise
essly effected their escape in the skfs. The
light fire upon the deck scarcely illuminated
he dark phantom-lke hus. Both were car
led by the current clear of the raft which, by
great error of Judgment as it now appeared,
N the part Of the builders, had only been made
o protect the floating portion of the bridge.
he Fortune came first, staggering inside of
he raft, and then urching clumsily against the
,yke, and grounding near Kalloo, without
ouching the bridge. There was q moments
lause of expectation. AT last the slow match
ipon the deck burned out, and there was
a,,d martial r1nc;pp h,.u u-bipb littlo
lamage was produced.
Parma instantly called for volunteers to board
the mysterious vessel. The desperate expedi-
ton was headed by the bold Rowland Yorke, a
Londoner, of whom one day there was more to
be heard in Netherand history. The party
sprang into the deserted and now harmless vol
cano, extinguish the slight fires that were
smouldering on the deck and thrusting spears
and long poles into the didden recesses of the
hold. There was, however, little time to pursue
these perilous Investigations, and the party
soon made their escape to the bridge.
The troops of Parma crowding on the pal
isade, and looking over the parapets, now began
to greet the exhibition with peals Of derisive
laughter. 1t was but chids play, they thought,
to threaten a Spanish army, and a general like
Alexander Farnese, with such paltry fireworks
rs these. Nevertheless, all eyes were anxiOuslv
fixed upon TIM remaining fire ship, or ''hell-
burner" the Hope, which had now drifed very
near the nlnco of its destinotion Tcor;n,, ber
way between the raft and the shore. she strnck
heavily opoinst the bridre on the KaIloo s;dc
lose 10 The III ,ck. house at the commoncement
IF the Aoatinq norton of the br;dgn A hin
wreath of smoke was seen curlino over sligbt
and smoulderinp fire upon her deck.
At the same moment certain ensign De
Vega. who stood near the Prince of Parma
close to the block house. onnroachcd him with
vehement cntreoties that he sbonld ret;re Al.
exander refused TO stir from the snot heing
anxious to learn the result of these inyestiga !,
tions VEGA. moved bv some instructive and
irresistibly apprehension. fell upon his knees,
and pluckinr the General earnestly by the cloak,
implored him with such passionate words and
gestures to leave the place. that the Prince re-
iuctantlv welded.
1t was not moment too soon. The clock.
work in the Hone had been better adjusted
than tee slow match in the Fortune. Scarcely
had Alexander reached the entrance of 81
Mary's Fort. at the end of the brdge when
horrible explosion was heard The Hone dis.
appeared. together with the men who had boar.
ded her. and the block house AGAINST which she
had struck. with all its garrison. while a large
portion of tn. bridge. with all the troops upor
It. had vanished into the air. 1t was the work
of a single isntant The Scheldt vawned to If,
lowest depth. and then cast its waters acros,
the dykes. deep into the forts. and far over the
land. The earth shook rs with the throb of =