The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, 1864-03-26
THE THREE VISITS
FROM THE FRENCH OF AUGUSrE FlLo.

Chasseuls de Afriaae, sapprcs aad some
hatta'l;ons OF IN :..,sry. crossed the beau
tiful valley o u-,ags. and guava trees
which les I!:sur. y - : Ammcr, one OF
Tho ,,-;Y.a;,,.i t.....e..s "a. j. - las. 1t was
nina o'c;och, aG3 jl. >. had set IN
rIaav oaG a~...... -. ..astcned, for
they ha.. ;n ia..; ,-, sac, rs possible the
.9yana. ou.ri gF,so..l had been engaged
since dawn II, executing II raid against the
munnons tribes to compel to return TO
their alieeian.e. The field officer in COM
mand Of this detachment, hG stopped
with another officer 10 SEQ them detiie be-
fore him, and then took his place IN the
rear guard. It had been very warm all
day. ana luminous exhalations arose from
the earth, having spectral appearance
against the darkness.
"Look there corporal Gobin," said a
soldier" look down there; l SAW some
thing that looked like white. rag. That
couldn't be Bedouin, could 1t:
"Imbecilvp' said the corporal, graveiy,
':it is a cactus leaf, with the moon shln-
Parbleu-I see that well enough.
But I meant some hing else that L don t
see now. Ah-hold another!
ssIt is heat lightning, my lad. " !.
'PossibIy, possibly, corporal. Bnt 1t
seems very queer, and don't feel safe Ill
this country" At this moment the Gen
.walpassed before the young soldier,
"What is it that scares you SO much!
asked the corporal.
"Not as much as ycu would think
but all these things dancing backwards
and forewarls in the air-these plants
which have great arms, sharp as ssbres,
these other green machines that look like
melons armed with needles-all this don't
seem to be natural, and the night is just
Suyh Que as would make one thi- 1T
was haunted by evil spirits
ttHold Ypur tongue, conscrlpt! said
the corpa 4. Don't go and talk OF
ghosts now.
-"Why Shouldn't talk of them? l am
not afraid when you and all the rest are
here; but ghosts of Arabs would he funny
enough"
"One might know from what village
you come, youug man., said Gobin, SEA-
tentiously-" to he SO wanting, III act l
may say sense. Know, then, he contnd
ed, lowering his voice, that no one !"'l,'
speak of ghosts before the General.
"Aflwid! come, that is good lokr!---
Gen. Vefgamirr afraidi A brave'mln wio
has won hls rank by thrasting hins II cp
to the caunon's mouth; VIII Is conin0ii'y-
er of the Legion of Honor, AMI wa ATS
other crosss besides S, enough 60 vuT'r
every seam in Ills ccat! My friend G;t,oe.,
you wili.uevcr be minister of war; >iy
,sO."
"Well, then, il your Gen r;.i = 80
4, is t,, t,...
talk OF ghosts"
"Taat's AN ldea of his. He says
such sturie, weary him, especially ut II :;
It is q weakness, conscript, L con! >,
weakness unworthy sucn brave o..'
then he hides IL SO well no one sd"i''tis
it"
ssThen how do you know it. corpof'.?'
can old friend OF mine-RahnSr.'
sapper of the rwenty-second, who i."i
been servant Of the Generals, toll Ii !"
ne as secret when he WIS drank.
''Ah, you keep your secret finely
May ask ii the General"
"Silence; CADET, my friend; think he
glspects we are talking OF him.
In fact tn. General had nos lost word
of the conversation between the two sol
diers, and the impression 1T had made up
on him was so marked, that his compan-
ion, surgeon Edward Banis, could not
help inquiring the reason. A.
fsDoyou believe in ghosts ?" asked the
General abruptly. ~. .a,
The Surgeon hesitated. why not!
he answered. :,
ESQ then. tho body being dead the
soul survives?"
"Stated on those te ms it alters the
che question"
s'Tell me your views on the subject;
eMd foi, General, / hardly know Ii
life is manifestation, or better, the eman-
alton Of q principle general and enternai,
under form complete but perlshabie, as