166 The Eve of Saint Simon, in Colombia. L^ UG - 



square. Up to that instant, the young man had received no intimation of 

 his doom ! When those of his brother-officers who resided in the same 

 quarters had quitted, a short time previous, to attend parade, they left 

 him congratulating himself that his arrest would spare him the painful 

 task of witnessing the death of the very men whose fate he was now 

 unconsciously to share ! Blosset now advanced and dropped the point 

 of his sword to Paez, who, without changing his position, replied to this 

 silent but unequivocal demand, 4f Let the execution proceed /"* The 

 two men were now placed on their knees, with their faces towards the 

 wall ; the platoon, in double file, took their station at about ten paces' 

 distance from the objects of their aim ; then, and not till then, Trayner 

 approached Risdale, and made a motion to dispossess him of his uniform 

 jacket. Risdale started back as though he had trodden on a viper, and 

 the ejaculation of, " Am /really one of the unfortunate beings to die?" 

 burst from his lips. The agony of that moment, to be felt, must have 

 been witnessed : it cannot be described ! He gazed vacantly round him : 

 who can paint the unutterable anguish which that look portrayed ? A 

 convulsive motion agitated his frame, an involuntary tribute paid to fee- 

 ble nature ; and when Blosset bade him bear his fate like a ?nati, he an- 

 swered firmly, (in the words of " Macduff,") " I shall, but must likewise 

 feel it as a man !" Another moment restored him to self-possession. He 

 divested himself of his uniform, and cast it with indignation at his feet: 

 he then glanced tremulously round, till his eye rested on Captain Scott, 

 who commanded the company on the extreme right of the square : he 

 articulated his name. Scott, yielding to the sudden impulse, sprung to- 

 wards him, but was arrested by Blosset, and compelled to resume his 

 post. The colonel asked Risdale what he desired ? and on his reply- 

 ing, that he merely wished his family to be informed of his doom, promised 

 that his wish should be complied with. From this instant, never was 

 greater courage displayed by mortal, than was evinced by Risdale. 

 With unfaltering steps he approached the fatal spot, and knelt in front 

 of the party that was to terminate his existence ! His eyes were unban- 

 daged, and, by a refinement of barbarity (which could only have ema- 

 nated from the villainous Trayner, upon whom the arrangements had 

 devolved), the muskets were unloaded, and each succeeding word of 

 command of the " platoon exercise," as it was audibly pronounced, 

 sounded like a reiterated knell of death on the ears of the unfortunate 

 victims, and protracted the agony of their sufferings. At the word 

 " Make ready," Risdale raised his hands, and crossed them upon his 

 bosom in token of resignation ; the next moment his body lay extended 

 a bloody and a breathless corse, and left his pure spirit to wing its 

 flight to brighter realms with the damning record of man's injustice ! 



I have little more to add : it may, however, gratify my reader to 

 learn, that the " Eye of Providence" winked not at oppression. Six 

 weeks had scarcely elapsed since the dreadful scene I have related 

 took place, when Blosset was wounded in a duel by Major Power, who 

 had served in the same regiment with him in Egypt ; and after linger- 



* Blosset weakly yielding to Trayner's suggestions, had the previous night, in a con- 

 ference with Paez, stated his opinion, that an example was necessary to restrain the muti. 

 nous spirit of the soldiers of the legion, and pointed out Bisdale as a proper object to 

 exercise severity upon. Had Blosset, even at the place of execution, spoken a word in the 

 young man's behalf, I have no doubt Paez would willingly have reversed a sentence which 

 did not originate with himself, and which he had no interest in enforcing. 



