The National tribune., 1899-07-13

the northeastern border OF the valley, and
prepared, with Joyous expectation. which
had not been diminished even tE tie sig
nificant and conStanty-rereatcd threats OF
the pursuerS. to descend into the friendly
land of the TlasCalanS by way OF the vale
of Otumba. For the last two days, the
name Of this valley had been continually
on the linS Of the bleXicanS. folio ing on the
rear; and their cries. as interpreted by
Marina. who survived tie HOrTCrS OF the
Sorrowful Night minated. plainly enough,
that the work Of revenge, 50 dTc2Gfuiiy COM
menced upon the lake. was 10 he conSunl-
mated in the gorgeS OF the mountains.
Nevertheless, tie SpaGiarGs, in TIE alacrity
of spirit. which the prospect OF soon ending
their SufferirgS in tie Land Of Bread, pro
duced. forgot these mcnaCeS, or regarded
them as the idle bravadoS of impOtent fury;
and clambered upwards, with increasing
hope, until they reached the crest of a
ridge, and looked down the slope to the
wished-for valley. The sight which they
beheld will be described in another place.
1t remains. now. To return TO an Individual,
whose fate has long been wrapped il inys-
terry.
At the moment when the Spaniards ap-
preached the highest part OF the rayine, by
which, alone, they could paSS, IN tnat
quarter, from TIE vale of IeEochtitlan,
there lay, in a wild and savage nook OF the
mountain, which went shelving upwards
on the right hand, ard at so short dis
tance that had bugle been wlnded IN the
army, it must have reached his carS,-one
who had been companion III many OF
their battles and sulIeflngs- number of
huge rocks fallen ages ago, and rolled
from some distant pinnacle, were heapec
together on broad ald inclined shelf. and
inclOScd Il s.aCe of ground so regular in
form and yei SO rude'y bounded by tkoee
SprawiiDg EGrrierS, ti.at 1t looked 10 the
Imagination not unlike the interior OF some
stuDeudous temple, built by barbaric
people, and oveFw heimed. many ages
before, by some great coIlyu!s!on-
one side Was formed Ey 4 GILL, III whose
shiyercd side yaWEed the entrance OF a
black and dismal cavern, while the broken
masses of rock themselves formed the
others. Among, and over these, where
they lay in contact with the cilft, there
rushed a torrent. which, in the times of
drought, might have been a meager and
chattering rivulet, making its way, merrily,
through gap and hollow, but which, now,
swollen by the Summer rains, came ravlng
and roaring over the rocks, broken by them
into series of fOamlng cascades; and,
then, shooting over a corner OF the in
closure, and, darling through the opposite
wall, it went, laundering, down the mount
ain. 4 few StJnted trees stretched their
withered limbs among these savage masses;
and the noontide sun, peeplng down on the
MOSES and ALI ile flowers, which orna-
mented its shelving floor, tinting, with mo-
mentary rainbowS, the nliStS that hung
over the fall.
A sable steed, without bride or halter,
and much the worse for such primitive
stabling. and yet, to all appearance, the
relic of a once noble war-horse, wandered,
at liberty. through the inciOsure, cropping
the few plants which bedecked 1t, or drink
ing from the little pools at the side Of the
torrent; wEile, at the mouth of the cave, at
the foot of wooden crucifiX Of the rudeSt
dpGcrIDtinn Law Sl1pDirflT fHp fffCtlra pf his
master. A stained and tattered garment
OF leather, investing his limbs, was not
altogether hidden under a black mantle,
which partly covered his body. The head
of the sleeper lay on his right arm, and this
embraced the foot Of the cross, SO that the
grizzly locks, which fell from his forehead,
rested against, and almost twined around,
the holy wood.
The sunbeam played. unregarded. on his
withered checks, and fIickered over a heap
of rusted armor, both of man and horse,
which lay hard by, shining also, with
fierce iusier. upon what appeared a scarlet
surcOat. hung. ike banner, or the point
of q tnightiy lance, which rested against
the side OF the cliff.
Disease, as well as age, had furrowed the
checks and wasted the form of the sum-
beEer; famine seemed 10 have been at work,
as well as all other priVatiOES incident tD
haDitation in the desert; and there was, in
his whole appearance, such an air Of eX-
uti4t anu LttcT misery 2S NDlLl nave
moved the pity OF any behOlder. Never
the.eSS, lie slept on, regardless Of the roar
ing fall, and needless Of the fierce sun
beam, in such tranquility as augured, at
least, momentary suspension OF suffering.
AS the sun stole up 10 the meridian, an
other creature was suddenly added TO the
scene. The browsing war-horse pricked
his ears and Snorted, as if 10 do duty of a
faithful sentinel, and convey 10 his master
a note of alarm, as certain dried branches
cracked among the rocks of the wall. and a
stone, loosened as by footstep, fell. rat
Ting, down their sides, and buried itself in
the pool. at the base Of the fall. But the
anchorite, for such the solitude Of his dwell
ing, the poverty of his raiment and, more
than all, the little rugged cross which he
embraced, caused him to appear, heard not
these sounds; he slept on, lulled by the
accustomed roar OF the waterfall; and the
steed was left alone, 10 watch the approach
of the stranger.
Presently, he was seen dragging himself
up the rocks, by the aid of a dropping
bough; and when he had reached their top,
he rested for a moment, still cllnging to the
branch, as if worn out with toll, as was,
indeed, made apparent by the youth and
feeblenesS of his appearance. He cast a
haggard and unintereSted eye on the ro-
mantle torrent leaping and foaming at his
feet, and seemed TO hesitate whether he
should descend into the prison-like in
closure, or retrace ms steps, and retreat as
he had come. But. suddenly his gaze fell
upon the steed, and he started with sur
prise at a sight so unexpected. The saga
cious animal whinnied loudly, as if with
recognition; and the youth, devoutly cross
ing himself, looked, with an agitation that
denoted terror, on the red garment, the
cross, and the human figure that still lay
sleeping, or, perhaps, as he thought, dead
under its holy shadow. Then, as if re-
solved, he hastened to descend from the
rugged fragments, and seeking where he
might safely cross the brook, over the
stones that obstructed its bed, he at last
stood at the side Of the good steed, which
snuffed at him a moment with Joy, and,
then, gambolling about a little. fell to
cropping the plants again, satisfied that the
conner was 4 friend.
The youth stole up trerlblingly to the
side of the sleeper. and seemed slG5l-@d -
his emaciated and neglected Appearance.