Year: 1879

AN OFFICERS STORY OF THE MEXICAN


"It was dnring the Mexican war,
when wasa sub in cavalry regiment,
that I found myself on duty at Vera
Cruz. Tempted by the high mountains
in the vicinity, the beautiful scenery.
and, above all, the superb hunting. 1
sailed forth early one morning accom-.
panied By no one save my Newfoundland
dog.


IT was an ardent sportsman, my dou-
ble-barreled gun worked to charm,
and not until the deepening shades OF
evening, accompanied by an unmistak-
able growl OF thunder, did I give a
thought to the flight of time or the i'm
portance OF retraeing my steps to the
city.


"It was about the time that the
blood thirsty and cowardly Cauales had
ordered every Mexican to join the army,
and commanded that no quarter should
be granted to the hated Americans.


"I had not anticipated danger from
the enemy, unless it might be in the
shape of some small band Of guerillas
lurking amid the mountain gorge, actu-
ated more by the hope OF plunder than
by patriotic motives.


"I will not attempt to say how many
thousand feet I was above the level of
the sea, bat found the elevation suffi-
cient, even for the tried and practiced
nerves of O seaman, had he been placed
in my position.


"There is but little twilight, you
know, in the tropics. The sun had dis
appeared in the folds Of an immense
cloud which was rapidly spreading it.
self over tho entire heavens, while from
its sable depths darted lurid sheets OF
Lightning, followed by the increasing
roar of thunder, which already found an
echo through the valleys and gorges OF
the mountain.


"I did not fancy wet jacket, and
whistGng for my dog, an animal to
which was warmly attached, was on
the point of retracing my steps down
the rough mountain roaa, when the
jingling Of spurs and accouterments, the
trampling OF horses, and the hoarse
word of command was sufficient for me
to draw back into tall tuft of grass and
Spanish bayonet growing beside me.


"The dog crouched at my feet, growl'
ing ominously, as if conscious of the
danger his master was in; and faith, I
did not much like the situation found
myself compelled to face.


ga number of Mexican lancers were
before me, preparing to bivouac for the
aight, and my retreat down the road
was out of the question.


"High, precipitous rocks hemmed
me in on three sides, through which the
road had travelled had been originally
cut. That outlet was now in possession
OF the lancers, while IN front Of me the
steep side Of the mountain, verging al.
most on to a precipice, sloped toward
the city.


"To remain where I was would be
only to court death, nameless fate, an
unknown grave, for discovery was Ger.
tain to follow when the sentinels should
be posted.


1Cautiously I examined the smooth
sides of the precipice, covered here and
there by network OF vines clinglpg to
the crevices and riffs in the rock for its
uncertain life. Further on I beheld a
dark, irregular line disappearing in
the murky depths below. I strained
my eyes to the utmost, for the gloom OF
night and the mists of the storm, which
threatened every moment to burst above
my head, enveloped all objects in dark.
ness and uncertainty.


"But for once, fortune favored me,
and I never laid claim to being d favor.
ite of the tickle jade. The dark line
proved to be deep, dry gully, the
channel of some mountain stream, long
since dried up.


"But how to reach the friendly cover ?
that was the question which puzzled
me.


"a sudden commotion among the
gayly-trapped gentry behind me soon
decided my course of action. They had
kindled small campfire, were about
to cook their evening meal, and dozen
men-tall, strapping fellows-were "a
dating from the main body in different
directions to perform the duty Of senti-
nels.


"One in particular was making for
the friendly clump of wide-spreading
limbs, in hopes, possibly, to partially
escape the fierce gusts of wind and rain
which had begun to sweep about the
mountain.


dropping my fowling-piece, and
bidding my noble dog to shift for him
self, I swung myself over the precipice,
elinging to the network of vines, which
shook and complained beneath my
weight.


"The darkness had increased with
astonishing rapidity, and as I swung
over that rsyless void I found it i'm
possible to pierce the gloom. I heard
The short. sharp howl of NV dog as he