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

up. A score or two of soldiers dead and
wounded were ON the ground. The firing
ceased, the bell of the parish church rung in
its turn; the liberals were really in the heart
of the city
Still sound of horses hoofs, it is Lave fol-
lowed by his staff He stops near the burning
hut. Soldiers in white vests rise up on all
sides. They cry-''Vive la religion" 'Viye
la liberte p "Vive la gouvernment supreme!'
Since the Toltecs, how much blood mas
been uselessly shed upon this earth, which
would be a terrestrial paradise but for the in
tesiine quarrrels of its inhabitants. They do
not fight here for all idea, or for glory; nor
1t is bad to phiosophize in q ditch. Leaving
my reflections unfinished, l attempted to
exit icate myself from the shelter where
chance placed me for my salvation.
'IIave they captured Negrete? inquired
Lave.
mo general, he flies toward the defi.e of
the Perle and to follow him would be to kill
our soldiers, one by one."
''And the Colonel?'
''No one has seen him, but we have cap
tured his horse"
'.Let the fist order, at daybreak, be to pro-
claim a reward of 10000 piastres fol- him.
living or dead"
Although severe bruise OH my leg made me
suffer, and hindered me from climbing out OF
the ditch as quickly as | coulu have wished.
| could not help a movement OF disgust, on
hearing this order.
Col. Ramon was brave soldier / hap
pened TO see him at the fire, and l could not
understand the imprudence which had in
duced him to return to the city, when in two
bounds he could have gained a field of sugar
canes, near by, then, tine woods. At this
mons MT two renegades seized me roughly
by the collhr and without paying any heed tc
my explanations, dragged me toward the gen.
eral
ga prisoner, general" they both cried at
once.
"Pelmt me, sirs," said L
''Good heavens, doctor, what are you do
ing here?" asked the general, squirting his
horse towards me and extending his hand
'Nothiug, to my great regret" answered
in all sincerity .'And confess to you gen.
eral, that l should prefer to be quietly az
home"
do you serve then, the enemies of the
nation
81 ser'e God first, as you compatricts say,
it. Imagine, genera l was at work on my
history of the Toltecs, in which you were SO
much interested formerly
''Did not Col. Ramon command this post ?"
demanded the general interrupting me.
eyes, at least l think heard So"
ga blonde man: don't You know him %
81 have seen him three times, and from
the first noticed this singularity.
(Which way did he fy?"
upon my honor, general, if you should
ask me how was thrown into that ditch
could not explain it to you. Judge ia
Il understand you, doctor, au revoir."
The general gaoped away the two soldiers
who had Helped me out of the trench, seized
me again by the collar.
care you drunk, you fools ?" 1 cried.
"You will have to follow u.s. said one of
them TO me, you are our prisoner"
Have you not seen that am the friend of
| your general?'
ale has not ordered us to release you,"
answered the other, as he eEdeavored to take
! my watch from my pocket
Let wal be holy, national, or revolution
airy. let it be undertaken at mans caprice,
or for an idea, it is only theft and murder on
the most gigantic scale. / call AL to witness
who have ever seen the smallest battlefield, or
followed the steps of an army, that OF war
We must write, 'Stecped in infamy." But
men fight. and will fight as long as there re-
mains even one Oh the earth; in his quality
of rational and social animal, he will fight
| himself, despite being alone.
Although French-and French of the envi
rons OF Strasburg, am of calm and pacific
temper. The watch which they wished to
| steal, had been the property of NJ. Humboldt
| the man who has written the most on
America. That token of departed great man
was almost as dear to me as my history of the
Toltecs, and knocked down with a heavy
blow OF my fistthe audacious thief. His COM
rade made the same attempt. thought at
once of the Spanish proverb ''who strikes the
first, strikes twice. and snatching up gun,
gave him ha rad blow which made him re-
feet, and yell. My two thieves rushed off,
threw down the gun, and thinking how very
disagreeable were the events which had oc-
Cured in the last few hours, decided to return
home.
l heard some wounded men groaning and
forgot my resolution. was aided in my
work of mercy by captain and some soldiers.
IL was late when l started again to go home,
! harassed with fatigue, and more than that a
prey to nervousness, owing no doubt to the
agitation OF the night.
drew near my house-ohe streets were We t
| deserted and the doors closed. Some Creoes,
| ignoran. that all was ended. concealed them
| selves in fright behind the bars and CRATES of
| their windows.
''What has happened?' they questioned,
when they recognized me.
''We are under liberal rule"
"Ah lido you know whether the troops hay e
been raid?'
81 think not''
My interlocutors bowed their heads sadly;
they were wanting in patriotism, according
to the expression of Gen. Negrete.
at this moment band of conquerors
| passed near me-"Vive la nation" Vive la
| liberte," Vive la CONVENIENT supreme" The
same cries that the vanquished had uttered
the evening before. Only-supleme govern
ment meant yesterday Miramon; to-day it
means Juarez
/ Two corporals followed the tumultuous
band, armed with slaves copied. without
doubt, from those of the Roman centurions.
This, the emblem of discipline in the Mexi-
can army, has only one advantage ever the
knout of the Russans-it is used more fire
| quently.
| "They have found him under heap OF
straw said one of the corporals.
"Good luck for the one who has discovered
| hir." replied the other.
'That matters little; he will eat of bread
| of which have 10 wish to taste; did he de-
| fend himself, when he saw that he was cap
tured2'
''Who is captured ?" inquired.
"Col. Ramon, Senior; he will be shot to-
morrow.
l was ignorant of the history of Col. Ra-
mon, nevertheless he interested me- I re-
membered that he had wife and children
was it to see them again, to say good bye, that
| he returned to the city instead of flying from
it? Poor Colonel. am sure of one thins-he
will die bravely.
|