Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-05-25
FAITH IN DESTINY.
A Newly-Told Epistle in the Life OF Ma
poIeon Bonaparte.

Ou tue oLu Vi OcGoUer, 1ISJ, Nv
tie before sunset, on the top of the
hills near Ajaccio, three men with
military appearance and wearing
long overcoats stood looking upon
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 por-
ton of the town appeared, and the
port in which four big ships were at
anchor. This was the squadron
which, on the 23d of August, left
Alexandria to bring General Bona
parte back to France.
The three observers were Bona
parte himself, his chief of staff, Ber-
thier, 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 the English hav Q
received information ?" suggested
Berthier.
"No," said Bonaparte these ships
are putting to sea without paying
any attention to Corsica"
As matter of fact" said Gan.
theaume, "their course is nor'-nor'-
west and they are moving slowly,
with very little wind. General, we
shall be obliged to put off our de-
parture twenty 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 clear night like this chances
are all against u.s."
Admiral said Bonaparte, slow.
ly, ain the East q man becomes a
fatalist. Now, 1 believe firmly that
destiny is on my side.'
At this moment one of the sailors
that escorted the three chiefs came
up. He reported a singular discov-
cry. On the crest of the mountains
the men found mass of cut shrub.
berry, evidently intended to make a
bonfire. This, in all probability, was
intended to be signal that night.
As the sailor finished his report
two gunshots were heard and short
ly afterward two sailors brought g
struggling man before the chiefs.
Two individuals, armed with guns,
were found in ambush behind the
rock near the path. When hailed
they took flight. On being pursued
they fired. One was captured, and
the sailors were still pursuing the
other.
The prisoner was a young man
about twenty years old. He wore a
brown cap and hood. His dark
face wore savage expression. His
hard eyes sustained haughti.y the
piercing glance of Bonaparte.
Gantheaume questioned him:
What we're you doing there, hid
ing near the road and armed with
guns 2"
"We were watching for wild
boar.n
"Why did you not answer when
you were hailed +? Why did you
run away, and why did you fire upon
French sailors Z"
We are mountaineers, and we
are not acquainted with uniforms.
We believed that we were attacked
and naturally, we defended our
selves"
You are spies in the employ.
ment of England" said Bonaparte.
"You were preparing signal for the
English cruisers but, on seeing us,
another idea came into your heads /;
you thought you had good chance
to assassinate General Bonaparte,
and you put yourself in ambush SO
that you might FIRE on me as I pass
ed by. But it seems to me that /
know you. What is your name ~
Another report was heard, and
| Voices cried ont itHo 10 dood 10