The palmetto herald. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-07-28

the pest OI tllcSG ulOu;iIdLu ItSlOuS loi
over eight years. Right here is the only
handy pass over the mountains to Genoa,
and these villains have grown fat in purse
on the heavy robberies they have COM
mitted. They are the terror Of all travel
ers, and the plague OF all officers and
soldiers"
"Then they cannot he soldiers"
"Why, bless you, no. More than two
hundred soldiers have spent fortnight
at time about thelr haunts without eff
feet, To a stranger all account of the
escapes they have made would be incre-
dible. Sometimes they are here, and
sometimes there; but the moment o par
ty of soldiers heave in sight, they are no
where!"
That evening Montallo entertained us
with an account of Dalmarto's exploits.
and I was glsa he did, for thereby l was
enabled to 60 to bed happy man. The
loss of my property seemed as nothing,
for could only feel thankful that I was
alive. On the following morning we had
an opportunity to look about, and never
did I find myself In more charming
spot. Montallo's place was in deep,
wide valley or vale, with noble mountains
upon slopes on both sides. From his
place it was only about thirty miles over
across to Genoa, and as he could carry
all his wines over upon mules, his eXten-
sive vineyards were profitable. He kept
q dozen men at work most of the time,
besides the muleteers. He was veal
thier man than had supposed.
Two days were spent in wandering
about the premises and visiting his extern
sive wine vaults, and on the morning of
the third day he proposed to visit the
great cave Of CASTILLO.
"It is great place." said our host,
"and place which no one has yet fully
explored. 1t was accidently found some
years ago by poor peasant, who had
lost some goats, and was up there search
ing for them. But come, you shall see
for yourselves"
At seven o'clock we mounted our
mules and set out and after travelling
some six miles along winding path
among crags and cliffs, we began to as
cend mountain. 1t was tedious ride
up the rough, circuitous path, but we
managed to take it pleasantly, and at
length our host bade us stop. We were
now upon broad table rock, with per-
pendicular descent of some hundred feet
upon one hand, and upon the other the
mountain still lowered up above us. We
hitched the mules to some dwarf place
that grew out from fissure in the rock,
and then having taken our torches, we
prepared to follow our leader. These
torches were huge lamps, made to hang
on wooden handles, something after the
fashion of the torches carried by engine
men.
Each Of us took torch, a loaf of bread,
and flask of wine, and then set out.
For distance Of twenty rods or more,
We climbed up steep ascent and here
We came upon another table, only much
smaller than the first. Upon this, stand
ing close in to the side of the mountain,
was huge detached rock, and back of
this we found the entrance to the cave.
1t was a rough, jagged aperture, some
ten feet in diameter, with only scene of
darkness beyond. Montallo entered first,
and We followed. For a distance of
about twenty feet we passed through q
tunnel not varying much in height from
the entrance, and after this the way be-
gan to widen and expand, until we found
ourselves in a vast chamber, the extre.
mites Of which were lost in utter gloom.
The floor was quite smooth, but had q
descent as We went on. Through this
hall we travelled nearly four hundred
feeG and then we came to a place where
we had to crawl along upon our hands
and knees; but this was only few feet,