Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-03-28
FAITH IN DESTINY.

the sea. Although the weather was
magnificent, not even a fishing boat
was in sight; the Gulf was deserted.
At the foot of the mountain a portion
of the town appeared, and the port, in
which four big warships were at an
chor. This was the squadron which
on the 23rd of August left Alexandra
to bring Gen. Bonaparte back to
France.
The three observers were Napoleon
Bonaparte, himself, his chief of staff,
Berthier, and Admiral Gantheaume.
"There is no possible doubt about
it" said the Admiral, holding his
glass; there goes an English war
ship, and further in the distance |
notice two others.
"Do you suppose that the English
have received information?" ?" suggested
Berthier
"No," said Bonaparte, "these ships
are putting to sea without paying any
attention to Corsica.
"As matter of fact, said Ganth-
eaume, "their course is mormon west
and they are moving slowly, with very
little wind. General, we shall be
obliged to put off our departure twen-
ty-four hours"
"That is impossible, Admiral. We
must leave this very night"
General, excuse me for insisting
but if, as everything seems to indicate,
the English fleet is there, we would
be obliged to pass through its line,
and it would be very difficult for US
to do so without being perceived. On
a clear night like this the chances are
all against us.
"Admiral," said Bonaparte, slowly,
"in the east man becomes a fatalist'
Now | believe firmly that destiny is
on my side.
At this moment one of the sailors
that escorted the three chiefs came up.
He reported singular discovery. On
the crest of the mountain the men
found a mass of cut shrubbery, evil
dently intended to make a bonfire
This, in all probability, was intended
to be a signal that night,
AS the sailor finished his report two
gunshots were heard, and shortly after
ward two sailors brought struggling
man before the chiefs. Two individ-
uals armed with guns were found in
ambush behind the rocks near the
path. When hailed they took to flight.
On being pursued they fred. One
was captured, and the sailors were
still pursuing the other.
The prisoner was young man about
twenty years old. He wore a brown
can and a hood. His dark face wore
savage expression. His hard eyes
sustained haughtily the piercing glance
of Bonaparte.
Gantheaume questioned him: "What
were you doing there, hiding near the
road and armed with guns?'
I'VE were watching for wild'boar.
"Why did you not answer when
you were hailed? Why did you run
away, and why did you fire upon
French sailors?"
1--WE are mountaineers, and we are
not acquainted with uniforms. We
believed that we were attacked, and
naturally we defended ourselves.
"You are spies in the employment
of England, said Bonaparte. "You
were preparing signal for the Eng,
lish cruisers, but on seeing US another
idea came into your heads you thought
YOU had a chance to assassinate Gen
Bsnaparte, and you put yourselves IL
ambush so that you might FIRE on me
as passed by. But it seems to me
that l know you. What isyour name?
Another report was heard, anc
voices cried out, "He's deadI
An expression of savage despair
contracted the features of the prisoner
and his eyelids became red.
"You are a Valturio, continued
Bonaparte, lone of the bitterest enc
mics of my family. Yes, / have seer
you before. You are Giovanni Val
turio."
"No,J said the prisoner in a hoars'
voice. Giovanni is the man whom
your hirelings have just assassinated
1 am his brother, Giuseppe, the last 0
the Valturios II