The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-29

oniy one STORY IN nelght-the eXceptl IN COLI
nrms the rue-and are ordinarily composed
OF four walls yard in thickness and three in
height, surmounted with beams, covered
with tiles. One is sheltered in these dens OF
stone until the enemy beakes himself to a
church. lodges in the steeple and fires at the
roots of the houses.
Everything has its hour in Mexico, they
never give battle at night-sunset brings a
truce.
1t was near the end of May, and the heat
was intolerable-one could not study during
The DAY, because OF the perpetual anxiety. |
improved the hours when both Conservatives
and Liberals reposed, to occupy myself with
my quiet work 1.-The Toltecs and their mgra
tons"
ordinarily wrote with the window open.
The light from the moon and stars, and the
radiation OF the earth so intensely heated dur
ing the day, makes the nights under the .trop-
les, light. Tonight, forgetting for an in
slant my writing, l allowed my eyes to wan
der over the wooded mountains, that could
see from my study. The trees upon the
submits came out in fantastic shapes, now
upon the blue sky, now upon a border OF
white fog like a fringe of silver.
Nothing less than the report of a cannon
could withdraw me from my dreams.
Suddenly terrible fire burst forth; l rush
ed out keeping close TO the wall; the balls
whizzed by me: the sound of cannon was
heard; the glass Of the windows vibrated.
quarter of an hour passed before the tumut
subs'ded-an age when one is passive The
bugles sounded, cries were heard coming
Acknowledgement passed on the gallcp.
Was the city taken? 1 extingushed my
lamps-one must not offer point of attack
to an enemy-I perceived with surprise that
it was Wight. Emboldened by the sight of
the sun, | opened the window; the reports
had ceased.
Some soldiers, half clothed, marched by;
they were those of the garrison. l learned
that the Liberals had attacked one Of our bar
rcades, but had been repulsed with loss. The
beseiged had taken flag and made 50prison-
ers. They cried give la Relgion!' "Vive
lie Government supreme!' ''V:ve la Lib
erten'
Suddenly, mounted upon a gray horse, his
forehead bound with q handkerchief spotted
with blood, saw advancing a man around
whom the young officers were gathered with
loud hurrabs. 1t was Col. Ramon. He fore
saw the attack, repused the assault, followed
the enemy into his own camp and carried off
the flag. He passed, his grave face sad, i'm
passive. had the same expression as when he
leaned upon the centre table at the City Hall,
when his general borrowed of me 500 francs.
Our eyes met, he raised his hat.
Soon guns were fired, the bells were rung,
drums beat a salute, buges struck up flour
ish-he was followed, preceded, surrounded
by the people who appiauded in shouts.
They celebrated a victory, and l dreamed of
rest.
Before going to sleep, I thought I would
re-read what lxthilxOchitl wrote on the Toll
tecs-then l saw again the mournful features
of Cololel Ramon. Decidedly, the face of
this man, so unlike any other, had made an
impression on me-
CHAPTER III.
In his indigested and learned history of
the Indian acknowledgements relates,
that the Toltecs in taking possession OF Mex
leo, found the traces of a race of giants. The
Totecs in their traditions preserved the story
of the deluge, and it was a belief among
them, than the world would be destroyed
again-but by fire-Torquemada Francis
can monk solght to prove that the Bible
What tumult, and what terrible invention
is gun powder! The firms does not abate; a
piece OF cannon thunders from time to time,
and from mountain to mountain, echoing
the noise, and redoubing it. Orlzaba is sit
| uated in the midst of smiling valley, with its
/ ranges Of swelling hills, and mountain sum-
lnits crowned with trees. Between each
chain new summit, that the distance rem
ders shadowy, then volcano covered with
snow, which seems to lean over to watch the
running of the til )usand springs which flow
from its sides. CalcareouS masses, piled up
mountain high pierced with caves whose
vast spaces renders them sonorous.
The Indians lodged between these far away
peaks, inaccessible to all other feet but their
own-counting one by one, the reports from
the guns which resounded in the city, the
detonations from the cannon, if the laws of
acoustics are not false, must resemble to
| them the prolonged rolling OF the thunder.
A horse stops suddenly under my window,
some one strikes my door with heavy blows;
what impatience!
''Who is there? '' cried.
'Open, doctor, Open"
Give ME time, ''que diabler' In no coun-
try to my knowledge are doors opened until
one has knocked. Besides. I think-who
are you?
.IDiego Peraita, and require your services
to extract a ball lodged in the stomach of my
| Captain. He is in danger of death, doctor,
hurry, or will break down your door,"
''My house," L said as 1 drew the iron bolt,
''is that OF a foreign citizen,o of Frenchman, "a
physician
st is for those resons that want you;
the blood runs, and our surgeons are crazy;
open, for the love of Heaven"
The chain fell, and l saw sub-leutenant
of my acquaintance. The light from my
lamps illuminated a pale, anxious face, his
black eyes shone with feverish light.
mount, there is not q moment 10 lose, -
| he said to ine
''Give me time at least to take my case of
surgic Al instruments"
''Useless, doctor, our doctors have instru-
ments enough
! MY hat
''1rhe night is warm, I will lend you mine"
You will confess said /, springing with
| af4n,f to n pf tho horSn of m
terlocuter, that this new mode of fighting by
night is very dsagreeable. One will not
know soon at what hour he can be free to
study'
''Hold or, doctor.''
The recommendation was prudent, for the
horse started at full speed. He rushe2
through the deserted streets. the sky was full
of falling stars; we saw in the distance the
| light of fire works.
The horse snorted, maddened by his bits
and the spur OF his guide, who bending for
ward, excited still more by his oaths, the
speed of the noble animal. The murmur of
| the firing seemed to come nearer and echoed
from the side of Angostnra. 1t was the gate
towards t. is point that we were running at
full speed. Where do you conduct me? could
not help asking.
The lieutenant did not appear to hear me.
Sometimes bright light burst forth; it was
| tuC uiOuuuail poullbo 'Olth lto SioPN ohOo'
| The fires of the platoon answered each other
balls whizzed around me a disagreeable anG
| irritating noise.
We passed near great fire lighted in the
rear CT howell; the general was thee.
| again spoke to my companion, who always
| bentupon the neck of bis horse, did net hear
me, or did not wish to reply.
rs this is sorry Joke? do they lead me TO
the front rank? l have paid my forced loan
and prepared to demand his purpose ener-
getically. When the horse stopped l was
near a trerch-leaning upon the parapet, il
Illuminated from time to time by passing lights
stood Colonel Ramon, his head bandaged;
his eye cold and hard was tnrned TO the enc
mv-around him were some soldiers trem
bling, who do not lose sight of their chief
Here they watch and listen.
"Where have they taken the captain % in
quired my guide of a sergeant.
''Tbe captain died ten minutes ago. an
swered voice.
The lieutenant hurled an imprecation
against the enemy and bowling himself made
the sign of the Cross.
noticed that we were alone on horseback
exposed 10 the fire of the enemy, and that a
BALL had moi time to finish my refecsions,
our horse sprang backward and fell. 1 was
eff aI o,,1 ma, I'D