The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-06-18
THE PRESS.
[Springtield Republican,
The DEVILS Cross.


and supernatural, and likes nothing better
than to relate to an attentive and awe
struck audience, while sitting round some
s'posada' kitchen fire the traditions OF his
especial 'pais," or the tales of unearthly
things which he has heard from his child
hood. The bare stretches OF wild country
and lonely road still existing between city
and city and once infested by bandits, over
the sierra and in the plain, add not little
TO the natural credulity and fear OF the
Spaniard. The following is one of the
most striking and thrilling legends which
the Spaniard of the lower class loves to tell
in hushed and solemn voice on the night
of Good Friday or on All-Hallowe'en.
Believer is very small hamlet on the
banks of the Segre, not far from Urgel in
Catalonia. 1t stands ON the brow of hill,
behind which rises the snowy dim outline OF
the Pyrenees, like the steps of a colossal
amphitheater of granite. White houses are
scattered here and there over the undulat-
ing green plain like a flock of doves stopped
to quench their thirst at the waters OF the
river. A bold and naked rock rises sheer
into the air, at the foot of which curves the
river and on the summit of which are the
ruins of an old castle, evidently destroyed
by fire. To the right of this ancient ruin
stands dismal cross, popularity known as
'sla cruz del diablo.'' The shaft and the
DeSoS ~ Va NA~'~~
BILE, but there is a split, rusty appearance
about. it, as if having been struck by light
ming Between the crevices plants have
sprung up and nearly crowned it, while an
ancient, rugged oak hangs over it like can
opy. 1t is gruesome spot and has grue-
some legend. In centuries gone by, while
the Moors still occupied the greater part CT
Spain and called the Spanish kings
'counts," the villages and hamlets swore
fao1t 80 fol-, orlc xrr1,n n
did homage to other lords still more power
full The village of Believer and a few 9TH
ers formed part of the patrimony OF bar
on whose castle for many centuries had
reared its battlements upon that bare rock.
This baron was bold in wickedness. His
cruelty made his vassals detest him his vi
ces were SO terrible that the king would not
admit him to court, nor his neighbor, into
their houses. Whether from choice or ne
cessiiy no man can tell, but he shut him
self up alone with his bad temper and his re-
tainers on top of the rock where his ances-
tors had perched their nest of stone, and
racked his brain to discover some fresh
amusement in harmony with his character !.
This was difficult to find, as he had got tired
of waging war with his neighbors, hanging
his subjects and beating his servants. A
happy thought came into his head. He de-
termined to go to Palestine with the Chris
tldIS Vi Quiet lduuS anu WrcSb Iuc uOiy oCp-
ulcher from the hands of the infidels
Perhaps he imagined that shedding his
blood in so sacred cause might atone in
some measure for his sins. At any rate,
whatever his object, he decided to depart.
1t was hard task to collect money enough
for his journey, but having promised his
vassals total exemption from fealty tax in
the future, he managed by pinching and
scraping to get together the money required;
and reserving only his barren rock and cas-
tie, he suddenly disappeared, Great was
breathed again. They could now enjoy
their liberty unrestrained. There was
peace throughout the land; no more men
were found hanging from the trees; the
maidens of the village no longer feared to
go to the fountain with their pitchers; the
shepherds were not driven to seek in Sc
quested spots pasture for their f1ocks. Sew
eral years passed TRANQUILITY away and the
memory of the wicked caballero", as he
was called, became a tradition. Grand
mothers told the story with bated breath to
the little ones in the long winter evenings,
and threatened naughty babies with the in
slant return of the "Baron of the Segre."
One day, one awful day, he re-appeare
among his vassals; whether fallen from the
, skies or come up from the internal regions
no one could TELL but there he was in flesh
} and blood. The effects of this disagreeable
surprise can be better imagined than de-
scribed, and bad as he was IN character
when he left for the wars, he was far worse
when he returned. In material goods he
was none the better, for he went away with
his pockets full but he came back with moth
ing save his lance, his idleness and half
dozen of followers as wicked and abandoned
as himself. He began by exacting from his
vassals the back fealty taxes, and when the
villages resisted the baron set fire to their
properties and farm-houses. The simple
peasants appealed for justice to the king,
but the baron laughed to scorn the expostu-
lations of his brother peers, disregarded the
royal and papal mandates, nailed them up
on the towers of the castle and hung the
bearers to the oaks. Exasperated beyond
endurance and seeing no other way of res
cue, the whole village recommended itself
to God, and took to arms; but the baron col
lected his followers, called upon the devil
for aid, shut himself up in his stronghold
and prepared for battle. A sauguinary war
fare ensued. They fought with fire and
sword, in mountain and in plain, by day and
by night. But at last the cause OF right and
justice prevailed. On one fearfully dark,
still night, so dark that not a star shone IN
the heavens, and so still that not sound
was to be heard on the earth, the lords OF
the castle were carousing after recent VIC
Tory, ana IN the MIDST OF thelr wiz an0
noisy orgies sang sacrilegious songs in hon
or OF their patron. Nothing was to be heard
outside the castle save the echo OF their
blasphemies which rang out into the still ar
and resounded far and wide lover the plain.
The tired sentlnels, having turned tnelr
eyes several times toward the silent village
below, and hnding all quiet, gave way at
last to natures demand for repose and Tell
asleep at their posts. But few desperate
villagers had determined either to Tree them
selves and their families from their oppres-
sors or die In the attempt. Protected and
favored by the darkness, they scaled the
sheer precipice from the river SIDE and
reached the top at midnight. The draw
bridge, portcullis and castle were tired and
the baron and his followers perished.
When daylight began to whiten the tops
OF the juniper trees, the castle ruins were
still smoking, and through the breaches IN
the walls could be seen the Inquire OF the
wicked caoallero" fully armed, hanging TO
one OF the beams OF Inc panquetlng nan.
For time the village was at peace.
ihisties began 10 grow In inc desefted pa,
tios," ivy crept over the charred ruins and
only the walllng OF the WIND, the whoolng OF
owls and the rustlIng OF snakes disturbed