The National tribune., 1899-06-15

We're the only sounds that broke the dismal
quiet OF the scene; and there was some
thing in these, as well as in the occurrence
itself, which caused many to think OF the
characteristics of a funeral;-the mute and
solemn expectation of the Iookers-on,-the
smothered expressions of the feW,--afld
the occasional rattle of clods, drobping, by
accident, upon the coffin. or y
The bridge was, at last, fixed, andrthe
loud clang Of hoofs was heard. as Cortez.
himself, made trial of its strength The
breath of those behind, came more freely,
when these sounds reached their ears; and
tkey waited impatiently till the advance of
those who preceded them, should give
motion to their own ranks.
The post of Don Amador de Leste had
| been assigned, at his own demand, in the
vanguard, which was force consisting
of 20 horsemen, 200 foot, and 10 times that
number of Tlascalan warriors, commanded
by Sandoyai, the valiant; and, up to this
| moment, he had ridden at that leaders,
side, without much thought of unhealed
wounds and feebleneSs, willing, and fully
prepared, TO divide the danger and the
honor OF any difficulty which might be
| presented. But being now convinced, by
the sign We have mentioned, that is to
| say, the removal of the original BRIDGE
| that no enemies lay in wait on the cause
way, he descended from the back of Fopo-
so, giving the rein to LaZaro, and com
manding him to proceed onward with the
party. In this, he was, perhaps, not SO
much governed by a desire to escape the
tedium of riding in company with the ever
taclturn SandoyaI, as to be nearer to the
forlorn boy, Jacinto, who had, until this
moment, trudged along at his side. Some
little curiosity to witness the passage of the
rout of fugitiyes had also its influence:
for, taking the page by the hand he led him
to the edge of the bridge, where he could
observe everything without Inconvenience
and without obstructing the course of
others.
The dixie of Tacuda was, like that of
lZtapalapan, OF stone, and so broad, that 10
Its base was broad, shelving, and rugged.
and the summit was, perhaps, six feet
| above the surface of the wafer
The thunder Of the 90 horsemen, as thew
rode over the bridge, interrupted the con-
ISOLATION which the neophyte was about to
give to Jacinto; who, hanging closely to his
Patrons arm, yet looked back towards the
city, with many sobs for his exiled father,
In the gloomy obscurity Of the hour. the
cavaliers OF the van, as they passed, seemed
rather like specters than Ren;-in an in
stant of time, they were hidden from sipht
among the thick shadows in front, Not
less phantomlike appeared the 200 foot.
stealing over the chasm, and vanishing
like those who had preceded them. Then
came the 1000 Ilascalans, their broken
and dropping plumes rustling over their
4 dusky backs, as they strobe onwards. with
steps quickened, but almost noiseless.
| After these came the cannon,-lS pieces
Of different sizes, dragged by rows of ma
gans, commanded by the gunners. The
bridge groaned under their weight and n
murmur of Joy crept over the compacaed
multitude behind, when they had counted
them, one by one, rumbling over the sonor-
Gus wood, and knew that the last had
crossed in safety.
/ Much time was necessarily occupied In
the passage of these cumbrous instru-
ments; and an interval of several minutes
was allowed to intervene betwixt the Dass-
age of each, while the cannoneers were
looking to the condition Of the bridge and
the ropes.
i 1t was on these occasions, that the great
est quiet prevailed; for, then, even breath
was hushed in suspense; and it was on
these occasions also, that the ears of the
neophyte were struck by sound. which
had not, perhaps, at that time, attracted
the attention OF any other person. The
preeZe, which occasionally whispered on
his cheek, was so light, as scarcely to dis
turb the serenity OF the lake; and vet. it
appeared to him, Notwithstanding ali this
that, in these moments of calm, he could
plainly distinguish, upon either hand, and
at little distance, the rippling of water, as
II agitated by moderate wind He strain
cd his eyes, endeavoring TO pierce the
gloom, and unravel the cause OF this sim
gular commotion,-but wholly in vain.
lhe circle OF vision was circumscribed into
the narrowest bounds; and wo betide the
infidel, who, fishing in the lake, that night,
should fall from his canoe in slumber, and
be parted from it but 20 feet, in his con-
flsion.-The cavalier looked up to the
heavens; but the few drops discharged from
their stony vault, pattered with a sound
almost inaudible upon the water. While