Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-29
Jhe Starw Teller.
THE DEVILS CROSS.

THE DEVILS CROSS.
There is no more superstitious creature on
the face of the globe than the Spanish peas
ant. He believes in everything ghostly and
supernatural, and likes nothing better than
to relate to an attentive and aWe-struck au.
dience, while sitting round some ''posada',
kitchen fire, the traditions of his especial
"pals," or the tales CT unearthly thlngs
which he has heard from his childhood.
The bare stretches of wild country and lone
ly road still existing between city and city,
and once infested by bandits, over the sierra
and in the plain, add not little to the nat
ural 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 ana
solemn voice on the night of Good Friday,
or on All-hallow-e'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 colossal
amphitheatre OF granite. White houses
are scattered here and there over the undu-
lating green plain like flock OF doves stop. p
ped 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 destroy
ed by fire. To the right of this ancient ruin
stands dismal black cross popularity known
as
"LA CRUZ DEL DIABLO."
The shaft and the arms are of iron; the
round base is of marble, but there is asplit,
RUSTY appearance about it, as of having been
struck by lightning. Between the crevises,
plants have sprung up and nearly crowned
it, while an ancient rugged oak hangs over
it like canopy. 1t is a gruesome spot, and
has gruesome legend. In centuries gone
by, while the Moors still occupied the great
er part Of Spain, and called the Spanish
kings counts" the villages and hamlets
swore fealty to certain lords, who, in their
turn, did homage to other lords still more
powerful. The village of Believer and a few
others formed part of the patrimony OF a
baron, 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
vices were so terrible, that the king would
not admit him to court, nor his neighborS
into their houses. Whether from choice or
necessity no man can tell but he shut him
self up alone with his bad temper and his
retainers on top of the rock where his an
cestors had perched their nest OF stone, ana
racked his brains 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-
mined to 90 to Palestine with the Christians
of other lands, and Wrest the holy sepulchre
from the hands of the infidelS
Perhaps he imagined that shedding his
blood in SO sacred a cause, might atone IN
some measure for his sins. At any rate,
whatever his object, he decided to depart.
1t was q 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 sum required !;
and reserving only his barren rock and cas-
te he suddenly disappeahFed ,Sa Great was tine
}uy bryeathed lac 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 60 the
fountain with their pitchers the shepherds
were not driven to seek in sequestered spots
pasture for their fOcks. Several years pass
ed TRANQUILITY away, and the memory of the
"wicked caballero," as he was called, be-
came a tradition. Grandmothers told the
story with bated breath to the little ones in
the long winter evenings, and threatened
naughty babies with the instant return of
the "Baron of the Segrc."
One day, one awful day, he re-appeared
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 characterwhen
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 pOck-
cts full, but he came back with nothing save
his lance his idleness, and a half-dOZen OF
followers as wicked and abandoned as HIM
self. He began by eNacting from his vas
sails the back fealty taxes, and when the vii
layers resisted, the baron set fire to their
properties and tarm-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 en-
durance, and seeing no other way of rescue,
the whole village commended itselfto God,
and took to arms but the baron collected
his followers, called upon the devil for aid,
shut himself up in his stronghold, and pre-
pared for battle. \ sanguinary warfare en-
sued. 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 feartully dark, stillnight,
$50 dark that not star shone in the heavens,
and so still that not sound was to be heard
on the earth, the lords of the castle were ca
rousing after recent victory, and in the
midst of their wild and noisy orgies, sang
sacreligious songs in honor of their patron.
Nothing was to be heard outside the castle,
save the echoes of their blasphemies, which
rang out into the still air, and resounded far
and wide over the plain. The tired senti-
nels, having turned their eyes several times
toward the Silent village below, and finding
all quiet. gave way at last to natures de-
mand for repose, and fell asleep at their posts
But few desperate villagers had deter
mined either to free themselves and their
families from their oppressors or die in the at,
tempt. Protected and favored by the dark
ness, they scaled the sheer precipice from
the river side, and reached the top at mid:
night. The sentinels passed at one bound
from dreams to death The draWbridge