, 1862-05-15

yOu AIO BOluBI
"Of course do" replied the soldier, " We are
going to the English encampment"
"The English eneampnentm II repeated the Vi
VAndiere, looking at him with astohishment
"And hope,h continued the sergeant, that
wen be able to come up with Il before the battle
comes o."
"Whatl" exclaimed Dolores, seiEing him By
the arm, "do you not know that the battle has
already been fought aud-lost on the sixteenth =
By Sir John Moorei" said the sergeant
Eyes" replied Dolores, "by Sir John Moore,
who was killed. His troops have now reached
the coast with the view Of shortly embaFking."
Mcguire stood suddenly still.
"On your life, woman, charge you to 0Ay
whether you're deceiVing mel"
"0n my life am telling you the truth" con-
tinued Dolores, with an accent Of sincerity that
doubt was impossible several detachments,
which, like yourselves, were marching ~ they
imagined 10 Feloln the English army, have ALLEN
into the hands Of the French posts; II you pro-
ceed in your present line Of march, in few
hours you viii be Gll prisoners"
Dolores added several particulars, 90 minute
and precise, concerning the plan Of the action,
and The various localities occupied by Marshal
Soults troops, that Mcguire saw clearly the
whole danger Of his position. Luckily bis con
versation with the vivandiere had been carried
on in Spanish, so that his cOmrades had not un.
derstood Il Knowing that the Intelligence Of
such fetefse would give the finishing blow 10
their state Of discouragement, he charged Do
lores not 10 let them suspect anything, and then
ordered trooper to gallop on 10 the first wagon
and order the driver TO turn sharply 10 the right
In order to reach the sea BY the shortest posi-
| bic route.
Although this new line Of march seemed to
take them further away from the main body Of
lkk. Ii. naak
everything Of which they stood In need Is well
as safe place Of refuge, most Of the party obeyed
the order without raising very great objection.
The vivandiere alone stood still. Besides the
fact Of this new line Of march placing . stil
greater distance between her and the French
camp, her strength was completely exhausted,
50 that, after saying that she could 20 no further,
she sat down on the roadside In . iainting state
Mcguire looked embarrassed.
GConfouhd I'll" said he, making the butt-end
Of his muslEet ring upon the ground, 1--WE might
as well have LEFT you in the lurch, then. What
viii you do when we're gonef"
thoughts began to wander, and who could hardly
speak.
But if you remain here, /" continued Mcguire
with rough but kindly voice, "yOu will die like
Q wounded wolf"
"And if do, after my death, heaven viii
Ayenge me-" she stammered Out, falling 70 the
ground.
"Hailoa, wIlliamsl" hs cried, "lOOk sharp |,
stop the wagon, and make room for one in III"
SWhatl for the daughter Of Satani" said The
corporal.
answered the sergeant "HAxnt you any pity In
SNever, when an exposed 10 danger" Re.
Piled the corporal ain my opinion, when you
have conquered an enemy, the best thing you
can do is to kill him."
"NO matter what your opinion q, do what
have ordered you'll" answered Mcguire, steFnly.
The corporal obeyed with very bad grace,
and helped the viVandieFO In the wagon. She
met with anything but hospitAble welcome
from the women and the wounded soldiers a.
ready there.
"How long have the bAegags-waeOhs Of the
king Of England been used to transport traitors
that aid the French 2" asked several voicsa
"ThrOW her under the wheelsi Down with
the false-heaFted queani" cried several voices
Mcguire made no reply, but placed Dolores,
who had by this time hintsd, IN sort Of recess
formed BY the baggage, whence she could not
be thrown by the jolting Of the wagon. The
party was traversing very wild country, inter-
sected with rocky eminences, where, as Was the
case In nearly eli Spain, no regular road had ever
been marked out, and the only Way-marts 70
guide the traveller were the ruis and tracks len
By the feet Of cattle. The sun had completely
disappeared. The darkness, increased still more
BY the sombFe clouds that covered the sky, was
90 dense that it was scarcely possible 70 diStin-
guish the outlines Of the cumbersome wagons.
In an hours time, however, the storm, which
had long been threatening, broke forth in ell It,
full force. The rolling Of the thunder, which was
| ct first relieved BY solemn pauses, soon became
incessant; torrents Of rain, through which the
iorked lghtningS flashed, ie like one large water.
spout inundating the heignts submerging the
low ground, and changing the dry, powdery soil
into one large ocean Of mud. The horses,
| frightened BY the lightning and the unusual
jaded soldiers In vain sought refuge behind the
wagons; their position was becoming more crit
ical every moment At last Il stopped at the
| top Of very rapid descent, and the sergeant
looked with inquietude around.
The veil Of rain which covered the heavens
was 30 thick that Il did not even allow the light
nings to illuminate the road; their bTillialcy,
dimmed BY the thick mist, showed only anumber
| Of confused forms and uncertain outlines, which
inspired every one with vague idea Of danger
without giving him an opportunity Of knowing
in what Il really consisted. Alter having IN
vain examined the horizon, and reconnOitered
the descent before him, the sergeant was about
to give the word Of command for the convoy TO
proceed, when . scream, that issued from the
last wagon, caused him to start with horror.
Dolores had been revived BY the rain, and had
raised herself up on the baggage. When the
sergeant turned round, she was leaning forward,
with her head advanced and her arms extended,
pointing with alright 70 the descent at the top
0f which the party had stopped.
"ln the name of HsaVenn she cried 10 Ma
guire, "dO not advance another step, unless you
are tired Of liiel"
"why, where docs this road lead tO asked
the sergeant.
"TO the Devils 0ulfi" replied Dolores.