The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-02-01
SELECT STORY.
THE LOTTERY OF LIFE.

IltAitdu WnlCu
we select the following thrilling scene.
A captain in the insurgent army is CIV |
ing an account Of meditated night at |
tack upon q hacienda, situated in the |
Cordillera, and occupied by a large |
force of Spanish soldiers. After
variety of details, he continues
| Having arrived at the hacienda un-
perceived, thanks TO the obsurity of a
moonless night, we came 10 halt un-
der some large trees at some distance
from the building, and rode forward
from my troop in order to reconnoitre
the place. The hacienda, so far as
could see in gliding across the trees,
formed huge massive parallelogram,
strengthened by enormous buttresses
of hewn stone. Along this chasm, the
walls of the hacienda almost formed
the continuation of another perpendicu-
lar one, chiselled by nature herself in
the rocks, to the bottom of which the
eye could not penetrate, for the mists
which necessarily boiled up from be-
low did not allow it to measure their
awful depths. This place was known
in the country by the name of the Vol
0dero."
had explored all sides Of the build
Jog except this, when l know not
what scruple of military honor melted
me to continue my ride along the ra-
vine which protected the rear of the
hacienda. Between the walls and the
precipice, there was a narrow path
way about six feet wide; by day the
pass ige would not have been danger
ous, but by night 1t was q perilous
enterprise. The walls of the farm
took an extensive sweep, the path
crept around their entire basement,
and to follow it to the end in the dark
ness, only two PAGES from the edge of
a perpendicular chasm, was no very
easy task, even for as practiced
horseman as myself Nevertheless, /
did not hesitate, but boldly urged my
horse between the walls of the farm
house and abyss IF the Voladero. /
had got over half the distance with
out accident, when all of sudden my
horse neighed aloud. This neigh
made me shudder. / had reached
pass where the ground was just wide
enough for the four legs of my horse,
aud it was impossible to retrace my
steps.
"Halloo!" exclaimed aloud, al the
risk of betraying myself-which was
even less dangerous than encountering
horseman in front of me on such a
road. ''There is a Christian passing
along the ravine! Keep back"
1t was to- late, for at that moment
man on horseback passed round one
of the buttress. S, which here and
there obstrucred this accursed path
way. He advanced towards me. /
trembled in my saddle; my forehead
was bathed in cold sweat.
For the love of God! can you not
, rpturn?' l exclaimed, terrified at the
fearful situation in which we both
, were placed.
"Impossible!" replied the horseman,
in a hollow voice.
recommended my soul to God. To
turn our horses round for want OF
room, to back them along tho path
which we had traversed, or to dis.
mount from them, these were three
impossibiities which placed us both
in the presence of fearful doom
Between two lorsemen 80 placed up
on this fearful path, had they beer
father and son, one of them must in
evitably become the prey of the abyss
But few seconds had passed, and WI
= were already face to face-the un
known and myself. Onr horses were
head to head, and their nostrils, dilat
= ed with terror, mingled together with
their fiery breathing Both OF III
halted in dead silence. Above wa
the smooth and lofty wall of th'
hacienda; on the other side, but thre,
feet distant from the wall, opened tn
horrible gulf. Was it an enemy
had before my eyes7 The love of my
country, which boiled at that per cd il
my young bosom, led me to hope i
~ was.
'.Are you for Merico and the In
slrgentsi" | exclaimed, in a momen
of excitement, ready to spring upor
the unfortunate horseman If he ans
wered me in the negative.
"Meaico lnsurge,,te-lhat is m,
pass word replied the chevalier. g
am the Colonel Gardunn."
Sand am the Captain Castsnos
Our acquaintance was of long stand
- ing, and, but for our mutual agitation
we should have had no need to ex
change our names. The colonel hat
left us two days since at the head of
detachment, which we supposed to b
either prisoners or cut off, for the,
had not been seen 10 return to tn
camp.
"Well, colonel, 81 exclaimed, 81 an
sorry you are not Spaniard-for yol
perceive that one of us must yield tn
pathway to the other
Our horses had the bride on thei
necks, and put my hand in the hol
sters OF my saddle to draw out m,
pistols.
81 see it so plainly" replied tn
colonel, with alarming GOODNESS, 'tha
should already have blown out tn
brains OF your horse, but for the fea
lest mine, in a moment of terror
should precipltate me with yourself b
the bottom of the abyss."
remarked, in fact, that the colone
already held his pistols in his hands
We both maintained the most pro
found silence. Our horses felt tn
danger like ourselves, and RENAME,
az immovable as if th-ir feet wer
nailed to the ground. My exoitemen
had entirely subsidized. "What are w
going to do7" / demanded of the COL
onel.
"Draw lots which of the two shal
leap into the ravine."
1t was in truth the sole means O
solving the difficulty. "There ar,
nevertheless some precautions to take.
said the colonel. "He who shall b,
condemned by lot shall retire back
wards. 1t viii be but feeble chanc,
of escape for him, l admit; but il
shoit, it is chance, and especially on,