The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-11-05
TAXING FaE CHANCES.
Translated from the Spanish. J

q hacienda. situated in the Cordiiieras,
and occupied by I. large force OF Spanish
soldiers. Alter variety OF details, &
continues
"Hayine arrived at the hacienda un
perceived, thanks for the obScurlty oil g
moonIess night, we came to halt under
some large trees at some distance from
the building, and | rode forward from
my troop in+order TO reconnoiter the
place. The hacienda, so far as | could
see in gliding across, formed huge,
massive parallelogram, strengthened BY
enormous buttresses OF hewn stone.
Along this cha I'm The walls of the ha
cienda almost formed the continuation
of another Perpendicular one, chiseled
by nature herself in the rocks, to The
bottom of which the eye could not pene'
trate, for mists, which necessarily boiled
I'D from below, did hot allow it to meas
nre their awful depth. This was known,
in the country, by the name OF 'The
Nalade!o.
IL had explored all sides OF the build
ing excepting this, when l know moi
what scruple of military honor melted
me to continue my ride along the ravlne
which protected the rear OF the hacienda
Between the walls and the precipice
there was a narrow pathway about SIX
feet wide; by day the passage would
have been dangerous, but by night !;
was perilous enterprise. The wallis OF
the farm took an extensive sweep, the
path crept around their entire basement,
and 10 follow il 10 the end in the dark
ness. only two PAGES from the edge of
perpendicular chasm, was no very easy
task, even for as practiced horseman
MS myself. Nevertheless did not hesl
tate, but boldly urged my horse toward
the walls of the farm house and the
abyss of the Naladero. 1 nal got ose
half the distance without accident when
all Of sudden, my horse neig6ed aloud
This neigh made me shudder. l ha'
Just reached pass where the groun'
was Just vide enough for the four leg
of horse, and il was impossible TO re-
trace my steps.
s"Hello % l exclaimed aloud, at til
risk CT betraylng myself, which was erei
less dangerous than encounterIng horse
men in front of me on such roaa
There is a Christian passing along thu
rarine. Keep batk.
alt was too late. At that moment
IT an on horseback passed around one vi
the buttresscs which here and there Or
structed this accursed pathway. lie al
vanced toward me.
"For the love of God can you return?'
/ exclaimed, terrified at the fearful stu
alton in which we both were placed.
Impossible!' replied the horscman.
al recon nendcd my soul 10 God. IL
turn our horses round for want of room
10 back them along the path we had
travelled, or even TO dismount from them
these were three impossibilitles, which
placed us both in the presence ef a foar'
tul doom. Between Two borsemen 81
placed upon this fearful path, had they
been father and son, one OF them newt
ably become the prey of the abyss. But
a few seconds had passed, and we wer'
already face TO face-the unknown and
myself. Our horses were head TO head,
and the nostrils, dilated with terror,
mingled together their fiery breathings.
Both of US halted in dead silence.
Above was the smooth and lofty wall OF
the hacienda; on the other side, but
three feet distant from the wall, opened
the horrible gulf. Was it an enemy l
had before my eyesf The love OF my
country, which boiled at the period in
ny young be m, led me to hope it was.
.H Are you for Mexico and the lnsur-
cents?" | exclaimed in moment OF ex-
element, ready TO spring upon the un,
known horseman, il he answered me IN
the negative.
/" Merico Insur9ente-thati is my pass
port" replied the cavalier. Il am the
Colonel, Garduro.'
al am the Captain, Castanos."
"Oar acquaintance was OF long stand
ing; and but Tor mutual agitation We
should have had no need TO exchange
our names. The Colonel had left Us tive
DAYS since at the head of the detachment
which we suppose To be either prison
ers or cut Of, for be had not been seen to
return to camp.
"Well, Colonel" / exclaimed, Il am
sorry you are not Spanlard, for you
perceive that one of US must yield the
pathway TO the other.
Our horses Dal Inc UiluIcs vi tuci
necks, and put my hands TO the bolster
of my saddle to draw out my pistols.
al see 30 plainly" returned the Col
oHel, with alarming GOODNESS, that ]
ehould already have blown out the brains
of your horse, but for the fear lest mine,
in a moment OF terror, should precipilate
me, with yourself, 10 the bottom of the
abyss
al remarked, in fact. that the Colonel
already held his pistols in his hands. ,
We both maintained almost profound ST. {,
Ienco. Our horses fel. the danger like
ourselves, and remained as immovable !
No if their feet were .dlcd 10 the ground. /,
Nv excitement bau entirely subsidized. /;
What are we going TO do! 1 demanded ,
OF the Colonel"
"Draw lots to see which of the two
shallead into the raeire."
alt was, in truth, the sole means of
solving the difficulty. There are, new
srtheless, some precautions to take,
said the Colonel"
"He who shall be condemned by the a
lots shall retire backward. 1t will be v
but feeble chance for escape for him, /
admit, but, in short, there is q chance, .