New-York tribune., 1873-05-14


endipg roads, invented feel by Saint Crspin for
the benefit OF his devotees. On arriving tho village
of FlRueta we were challenged by hoarse voice.
+" o,,sen VineD Espdaa," replied I, Que gente,"
grunted again the voice; GenH dc Pds,"
screamed my parched tongue, and such was
our indignation that a muttered sdere" was
heard coming from the direction OF my friend.
which ioiniug my not altogether complimentary English
ejaculation and the arayua Of the rate Basdues new at
the heads Of our invisible ntercepers Wecoud see moth
ing IN the buding from which the voices emanated but
the muzze OF rife carefully pointed at one otour neads
While In this delightful state OF suspense inc heau was
peremptorily commanded 70 approach the oophoe anu
reply quickly and unhesitatingy TO questohs "on
turned 70 be the Of reassuring 10 US VINO ua
in our pockets documents whose purport the CArlisS
would be sure TO dsapprove OF II they toos the trouble
TO peruse them. Where do you come from 81 growed
a savage voice from behind the butt Of the aforesaid
rifle From EorrO." replied the adventurous Freheh-
man. What Is the strength OF the garrison III
that town ~ About 200 men," rs there any artillery
or cavalry p "Yes; four guns and about 20
horsemen." "And what business took you among
them % We are journalists, and wished TO see what
was passing" Have you any documents about you -
''I have MY passport" And what elseP "a letter"
"come in" Here pretty thing it was evident
the hands Of the Philstines To cut and run
would have been polite my part, for IL was yet pOssi
TO escape unscathed in the surrounding darkness
but TO abandon my friend 70 the OF the Carsts
into whose power convinced our guides had be-
trayed u.s. to be thought Of and in my rage at
this treachery drawing out my revolver when the
same unpleasant voice called out Let the Engshman
approach"
In the hope that my knowledge Of the Basque Ian
guage might prove more seryiceable than the re-
vover, obeyed the summons, when, JOY or Joys the
door Of the building thrown open. and instead OF
seeing before me hafnaked Carlst savage armed
L. of
stout officer OF the line, who, with poteness for
which I was totally unprepared, extended TO me the
hand of friendship and invited into the fortress.
now discovered that fortified house. garI1-
soned by q company Of regulars commanded oy
captarn who was a great friend Of my companion.
Cigars we're lighted, bottle OF capital Valdepehas
was duly and honorably attended to. II
must not be imagined, however that these
gallant officers we're lying bed Of roses few days
before our arrival two officers of volunteers captain
and a lieutenant had been imprudent enough to wander
a few yards away from the village, when voley was
suddenly heard the captain dropped down Dead ana the
subaern wounded. The former was left in the middle
OF the road but the Lieutenant picked up and carried
away prisoner. No knows as yet the fate OF ths
unfortunate young man. and the Carlss have lately
taken to shooting all the prisoners they take belonging
10 the volunteers the captain OF the little garrison I'M
mediaey arrested the sister OF the cabeca who COM
ands the party and sent message TO him, 10 the effect
that she should be shot any harm befe his brother
officer Thus you will perceive that this war Is assun-
ing the cruel character OF reprisals.
Ii was 1880 when we recommended our dangerous
Journey and had scarcely gone 200 yards when we were
alarmed by low whistle behind Chto lsilencel,
hissed one Of the Basque giants, and then abandoning
the high road we Gil gided silently down slippery en-
bapkent at the bottom Of which found myself depOs-
tied on bed Of brambles and prickles, from which
was extricated with difficulty by the united efforts
OF the trio Chto, hssed once more our ynxeyed guide
s we crouched all fours listening with bated breaths
TO the dull sound Of the quick footsteps on the high
road Suddenly the noise ceased, ana was informed IN
Basque whisper that pursuers had taken the wrong
scent and turned 20 the left Of the road instead OF
10 the right, where We lay. We were not
long in proting by this happy mistake and silently but
rapidy we flew away the wings OF fear We regalned
the high road near Vergara without even losing the u
brea which has my faithful companion for years
in woe and happiness On arriving at our desunauon'
we we're captured by the guard Of volunteers whose
prisoners we were only too glad to become. 1hey
marched us TO their chief, who, although reused
from sweet sumbers and happy dreams, received
us with much politeness and good humor. Here
we underwent a severe crOssexamination, dur
ing which the rest OF the lvolunteers mad
beeu reused to the strange foreigners
who thus yentured in a dark night where none but
priests and columns Of troops dared tread. These
il recorded that one Of their number who framed his
suspicious into menacing words, and counseled our i'm
prisonment was unceremOniously kicked downstairs,
where there was groaning and gnashng or teeth Tor
some minutes afterward. Having said that we knew
volunteer whose name we gave, they conveyed US TO
another post where were confronted with our
acquaintance who shook us heartily by the hand and
introduced us to everybody friends" Thus
ended this memorable nightjourney or nearly
20 miles, after having passed and eluded all
the Carllst bands that infest that neighborhood.
You may be sure we slept soundly that night. having
gone over 40 miles Of rough ground since the morning
and ayoke next day find ourselves famous among the
good people Of Vergara Of whom admired our zeal
and others thought US mad. To-day we have come 70
Vttoria 10 collect our correspondence, and the way
we have been stopped by the Carlists under Munan'
who however, permitted TO pass by virtue Of treaty
concluded between them and the propretors OF the dill
gence in which we travelling by which It is stpu-
lated that the said propretors in return for nonnter
ference shall pay certain every week 10 the ex
chequer OF Don Carlos.