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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1886)
A CYNICAL RHYME. The girl of tho period Bangcth her lialr, And stoops to a mvalad Tricks to seem fair. Her waist Is diminished, Her feet arc made small, lier finger-nails finished, By artists from Gaul. , ' .She uses cosmetic And poudrc dc rls; And oh I how tcsthctle In dress she can be. Her teeth arc forever (When paid for) her own; What odds If they never Wcro bred In the bone. Acr checks, so admired, By drugs arc mado round; Her blushes acquired At so much a pound. , Her eyes she enhances ' ' By painting tho lash; But naught wins her glance Like good solid cash. Although tls alarming, Some fellows, no doubt, Will deem her quite charming, Well I Just count me out I llcry Ucrg, in Chicago Ledgtr. Mathias Sandorf. -Br- JULES VERNE. ATrrnon of "jouhnet. to tiie oentrii OF THE EAJITII," "Tiur TO Tim MOON," "ATtOUND THE WOULD IN EldUTX DATS, " " MICIIAEIj BTROaOFF," "TWENTI THOUSAND IjEAOUES UNDEIl TIIE HEA," ETC., KTO. TRANSLATION COrVIlIOUTKD, 1888. CHAPTER XIL THE RUINED FAllM. Bandorf tliinking all was snfo went baok to tho tree, lifted his companion in hit) arms and laid him on Uio bank. Ho know nothing of whero ho woa or where ho wna to go. In reality this shoot of wator, which servos ns tho month of tho Foiba, is neither a lagoon nor a lako, but an estunry. It bears tho immo of Lemo Canal and it communicates with the Adriatio by a narrow crock botween Orsora and Rovigno on tho western sido of tho Istrian peninsula. But it won not known boforo this voyago that its waters oomo from tlio Foiba and woro brought throught tho gorgo of tho Brico during heavy rains. A fow paces from tho bank thero was a deserted hut and Bandorf and Bithory after a short rest took (shelter in it. Thero tloy stripped and waited whilo tho sun dried their olothes. Tho fishing vessels wore leaving tho Lemo Canal and an far as thoy could bco tho placo was dosortod. Tho man who had boon watohing them ein co they laudod now got up and caro fully noted tho position of tho hut. And thon ho disappeared around a knoll nd mado off towards tho south. Three hours afterwards Snudorf and his companion rosumcd their clothes. They wore still damp, but it was neces sary to rnovo on. "Wo must not stay too long in this hut," said Bathory. " Do you fool yourself strong enough to start ?" asked Sandorf. " I am almost exhausted with hungor !" "Lot us try to reach the coast I Thoro wo may porhaps procure some thing to eat and something to tuko us to en. Como. Stophon 1" And thoy left tho hut, ovidontly suffer ing moro from hunger than fatigue Sandorf's intention was to follow tho southern bank of the Lemo Canal uutil be roaohod tho sea, Tho country was doserted, it is true, but quite a number ,0 streams intersected it on their way to tho estuary. This watery network along tho banks is nothiug moro nor less than vast sponge, and tho mud is impas sable, bo that tho fugitives had to striko southward obliquely, easily koeping their courso by the sun, which had now rison. For two hours thoy kept on with out mooting a human being, and with out finding anything to satisfy tho hun ger that was devouring them. Then tho country becamo less arid. Thoy found a road running east and west, which boasted a milo-stono that gavo no indication as to tho region across which they wore feeling their way liko tho blind. There wore, however, eomo hodgos of mulberry troos, and farther on a Hold of scrghum, which enabled thorn to allay their hunger or rather to client tho wauts of their stomachs. Tho sorghum chowed and even eaton, nud tho refreshing mul berrios, might porhaps bo enough to keop thorn from exhaustion before they reached tho coast. Hut if tho country was inhabited, if a fow fields showed that tho hand of man was employed about them, tho fugitives had to bo careful how thoy met the inhabitants. About noon fivo or six foot possongers appeared on the road. As a matter of caution Sandorf thought he and Ilathory hud better get out of sight. Fortunately an enolosuro around an old ruined farm lay some fifty yards to tho loft. There, beforo thoy had beou noticed, ho and his companion took rofugo in a kiud of dark collar, whom in tho ovout of any oue stopping at tho farm they 11m little risk of diseovory if thoy waited till tho night. Tho foot passengers wore peasants and salt marsh workers. Some were driving a Hook of geese, doubtless to market nt some towu or village which could not bo vory far from tho oanuL Men and women woro olothod in Istnau gtyle, with the jewels, medals, earrings, breast crosses and tlligreo pondauta which ornament tho ordinary costume of both sexes. Tho salt marsh workers vera moro simply dressed, as with saok on baok and stick in hand they marohod along to the salterns in the neighbor U004.SX pwUapa oven to the important eatablishmonts'at Btngnono or Tlrano in tho west of tho province. Somo of them stopped when they reaohed tho farm and rested for a little on tho doorstop. Thoy talked in a loud Toico, not without a certain nnimation, but only of things concerning their trade. Tho fugitives leant against tho cor ner and listened. Perhaps theso people had already heard of tho escapo and woro talking about it ? Perhaps thoy wero saying something which might re veal in what part of Istria thoy then wero. Not a word passed on tho subject. They could only continuo to guess. "If tho country peoplo say nothing about our escapo it is a fair inference," said Sandorf, "that thoy havo not yet heard of it" "That" said Bathory, "would go to provo that wo are somo distanco from Iho fortress. Considering the rapidity of tho torrent which kept us under ground for moro than six hours I am not surprised at that" "That must bo it." said Sandorf. A couplo of hours passed, and then somo salt-workers as they passed tho farm without stopping wcro heard to speak about the gendarmes they had mot at tho gato of tho town. "What town t Thoy gavo it no name This was not very reassuring. If gendarmes wero about it was probable that they were scouring tho country in search of tho fugitives. "Bat," said Bathory, "considering how wo escapod, they might well believe us dead and uover think of pursuit." " Thoy will beliovo wo are dead when thoy find our bodies," answered San dorf. There being no doubt that tho police were afoot and in search of them, they docided to stay till it was night. Al though thoy were tortured with hunger thoy dared not leavo their retreat; and thoy were wiso. About fivo o'clock tho tramp of a small troop of horse was heard along the road. Bandorf, who had been out to the gato of tho enclosure, hurriedly rejoined his companion and dragged him into tho darkest comer of tho cellar. Thero they hid themsolves under n heap of brush wood and romained motionless. naif a dozen gendarmes headod by a sergeant were coming nlcng the road towards the east. Would thoy stop at tho farm? Sandorf anxiously asked. If thoy searched tho place thoy could not fail to find thorn. Thoy halted. Tho sergeant and two of tho mou dismounted, while tho others remained in tho saddlo and received or ders to Boareh tho country along tho canal and thon roturn to tho farm, whore tho roat would meet thon at seven o'clock. Tho fourgondarmos moved off imme diately. Tho sergeant and tho two others picketed their horsos and sat down to talk. From tho cornor of tho cellar tho fugitives could hear all that passed. "Yes," we shall go baok to tho town this evening and get tho ordors for to night," said tho sergeant in reply to one of tho men. "Tho telograph may bring us fresh instructions from TrieBto." Tho town in question was not Triesto; that was ono point of which Count San dorf mado a note. " Aro you not afraid,"said tho second gendarme, "that whilo wo aro looking about horo that tho fugitives may havo got down tho Quai-nero Canal ?" "Yes, that is possible," said the first gendarme, "for they might think it safer than horo." "If thoy do," said tho sergeant, they nouu tho less risk being found, for the whole coast is being looked after from ono oud to tho other." Second fact worth noting. Sandorf nud his companion wcro on the west coast of Istria, that is to Bay, uoar tho Adriatio Bhore, and not on the banks of tho opposite canal which runs out at Fiumo. "1 think they are having a look round tho salt works at Pirano and Capo d'Istria," said tho sergeant "They might hide thoro easily and got on board u vessel crossing the Adriatio and bound for Rimini or Venice." " They had much better havo waited patiently in their cell," paid ono of the gondarmos philosophically. "Yea," added tho other, "sooner or later they'll be enught, if they havo not ilshod them up out of tho Buco 1 That would finish it though, aud we should not have to trot about tho country in all this heat" I Ami ivlin aFO if lintm't flllisllpll it?" replied tho sergeant "Perhaps the ( I'oina lias noon 1110 executioner, aim whilo it is in Hood, the wretched mou could not havo ohoson a worso road out of tho donjon of Pisino." Tho Foiba thon was tho namo of tho river which had carried oft' Count San dorf and his companion. It was tho fortress of Pisino to whioh thoy had been taken nftor their arrest, and there thoy had been imprisoned, tried and Bontfiiced. Tt was from its donjon thoy had escaped. Count Bandorf know this town of Pisino well. Ho had at last fixed on this point whioh was so impor tant for him to know, and it would no longer bo by ohauoo that ho would cross tho Istriau peninsula, if flight was still possible. The conversation of tho gondarmos did not stop here; but in theso fow words the fugitives had learned all thoy wishod to know oxcopt, perhaps, tho name of the town by the canal on tho Adriatio coast Soon tho sergeant got up and walked about tho enolosuro, watohing if liin men were returning to tho farm, Twice or thrice he entered the ruined houso nud looked into tho rooms, rather from pro fessional habit thou suspicion. He even camo to tho door of tho collar, aud tho fugitives would certainly have been discovered if the darkuoss had not been bo great llooveu outored it, and tossed about tho brushwood in .the cornor with his scabbard, but without reaching those beneatli. At this moment Ban dorf and Bathory passed through almost tho wholo gamut of anguish. They had resolved to sell their lives dearly if the sergeant readied them. To throw themselves on him, profit by his sur prise to deprive him of his arms, tp at tack htm two to one, to kill him 01 make him kill himself, they had fully made up their minds. At this moment tho sergeant was called out, and ho left tho cellar without noticing anything suspicious. Tho four gendarmes sent off to search had just returned to the fnrm. Despite all thoy could do they did not como across any traces of tho fugitives in tho distinct bo tween tho coast and tho canal. But thoy had not como back alono a man accompanied them. no was n Spaniard employed in tho Bait works in the neighborhood. Ho wna returning to tho town when the gendarmes mot him. As ho told them that ho hail been all over tho country between tho town and the salt works they resolved to bring ltim to tho Bor gcant forhim to interrogate him. Tho man had no objection to go witli them. Tho sergeant asked him if ho had noticed any strangers in tho salt works. " No, Bcrgoant" said tho man; "but this morning, about an hour after I left tho town, I saw two men who had just landod at tho point along tho canal." "Two men, do you say?" asked tho tergoant " Yes, but ns in theso parts wo thought the oxecution at Pisino took placo this morning, and had heard nothing about tho escape, I did not pay much attention to tho men. Now I know what has oc curred I thould not be surprised if they wero tho two you want. From tho corner of tho collar Sandorf and Bathory could hear every word of this conversation which nffectcd thorn bo nearly. Thon when thoy landed on tho bank thoy had beon seen. " What is your namo ?" asked the scr geant. "Carponn, and I am employed at the saltworks." " Could you recognize theso two men you saw this morning ?" "Yes, probably I" "Well, youcau como and mako a de claration, and put yourself at tho dis posal of tho polico." "I am at your ordors." "Do you know thero is a fivo thou sand florins roward for tho discovery of tho fugitives ?" "Fivo thousand florins!" "And tho hulks to him who harbors them !" "You don't say sol" "Go," said tho sergeant. Tho Spaniard's now had tho effect of Bonding off tho gendarmes. Tho ser geant ordered his men to mount and as night had fallen ho started for tho town, after having thoroughly searched tho banks of tho canal. Cnrpona nt the namo timo pet out, congratulating him self that tho capture of tho fugitives would bo worth so much to him. Sandorf and Bathory remained in hid ing for nomo timo boforo thoy loft tho cellar which had served thom for a refuge. Their thoughts ran ns follows : As the gondarmorio were 011 their traccc, as thoy had been seen aud woro likely to bo recognized, the Istrian provinces wero no longer safo for them, and thoy must leave tho country as soon ns possible, either for Italy, on tho other sido of tho Adriatio, or noross Daluiatia nud tho military frontier. The first plan offered tho best chances of success, providing thoy could possess themselves of a vessel, or prevail on somo fisherman to land them on tho Italian coast. And this plan they adopted. Henoe nbout half-pnst eight o'clock, as soon in the night was dark enough, Sandorf and his companion, after leav ing the ruined farm, started off towards the southwest so as to reach tho Adriatio coast. And at first thoy wero obliged to keep to tho road to avoid being lost in the marshes of tho Lome. But did not this unknown road lead to tho town which it put into communica tion with tho heart of Istria ? Wero thoy not running into great danger? Undoubtedly, but what else could thoy do? About half-past nino tho vaguo out line of a town appeared about a quarter of a milo ahead in tho darkness ; and it was not easy to recognize it. It was a collection of houses olumsily built in terraces on an enormous mass of rock whioh towered over the sea above tho harbor cut baok into tho re-entering anglo on ono of its sides. Tho wholo was Burmounted by a high campanile, whoso proportions were much exagger ated in the gloom. Sandorf had quite decided not to enter tho town whero tho prosouce of two visitors would soon be known. Ho tried, therofore, to pass round tho walls so as to reach ono of tho points ou the coast if possible. But this they did not do without being followed for some distanco by tho same mau who had already seen them on tho Lemo Canal tho same Carpena whoso information thoy had heard given to tho sergeant of gondarmorio. In fact as he went home and thought ovor the reward that had beou ofi'ered, tho Spaniard left tho road bo ns to watch it better, and ohiinoo, luckily for him but unluckily for them, again put him ou tho track of tho fugitives. Almost at tho samo moment a 6qundron of polico cnuio out from ono of tho gates of the town and threatened to bar tho way. Thoy had only just time to scram ble out of sight, and then to hurry nt full Bpeoil towards tho shore by tho sido of 0110 of tho walls of tho port. Horo they found a fisherman's hut with its littfo windows lighted up and its door oiHMi. If thoy could not find a refuge hero, if the fisherman refused to receive them, thoy were lost To seek rofugo was to risk everything, but tho timo had gono by for hesitation. San dorf and his companion ran towards tho door of tho hut and stopped on tho threshold. Insido was n juan mending his net, by tho light of a ship'H lantern. "My friend," asked Count Sandorf, can you tell me tho namo of this towu V "Rovingo." "And wo aro speaking to ?' "Andrea Ferrnto, tho fisherman." "Will Audrea Ferrnto consent to give us a night's lodging ?" Andrea Ferrato looked at thom, advanced towards tho door, caught sight of Uie Kpiadron of police nt tho end of the wdj. divining doubts vuji oy wero that asked lite hospitality anfl understood that tuoy wero lost 11 ne hesitated to reply. "Como in," ho said. Bnt tho two fugitives did not moTe, "My friend," said Sandorf, "thero are fivo thousand florins reward for who ever will givo up tho prisoners who escaped from tho doujon of Pisino." "I know it" , , "Thero aro hulks," ndded Sandorf, "for him who harbors thom." "I know it" "You could not deliver " "I told you to como in ; como in, then," answered tho fisherman. And Andrea Ferrato shut tho door aa tho squadron of polico camo trainpinjr post tho hut CHAPTER XHI. TIIE FISnEKMAN'a HUT. Andrea Ferrato was a Corsican, a nativo of Santa Manza, a littlo port in tho nrrondissemeut of Sartene, situated at tho back of tho southern point of tho island. This port nnd Bastia and Porto Vecchio aro tho only ones that open on to that monotonous eastern coast of which tho sea haa gradually destroyed the capos, filled up tho gulfs, effaced tho bays and destroyed tho creeks. It was nt Santa Manza on that narrow portion of the sea between Corsica and tho Italian mainland, nnd often among tho rocks of tho straits of Bonifacio that Andrea Ferrato followed liis trado as a fisherman. Twenty years beforo ho hnd married a young girl of Sartcno. Two years afterwards they had had a daugh ter who was christened Maria. Tho fisherman's calling is a rough one, par ticularly when to tho fishing for fish thero ia ndded tho fishing for coral, whioh was to be sought for at tho bottom of the most dangerous channels in tho strait. But Andrea Ferrato was bold, robust, indefatigable, as clover with tho net as with tho trawl. His business prospered, nis wife, activo and intel ligent, ruled tho littlo houso at Santa Maiiza to perfection. Both of them know how to read, write and calculate, and wcro fairly educated, if wo comparo them with tho 130,000 who cannot write thoir names which statistics now reveal to exist out of 200,000 inhabitants of tho island. Besides perhaps on account of this education Andrea Ferrato was very French in his ideas and feelings, although ho was of Italian origin, liko tho majority of tho Corsicans. And at that timo this had occasioned somo animosity against him. Tho canton in fact, situated at tho southern extremity of tho island, far from Bastia, far from Ajaccio, far from the chief centres of administration, is at heart very much opposed to everything that is not Italian or Sardinian a regret able state of things that wo hope to soo tho end of as tho rising generation becomes better educated. Hence, ns wo have said, thoro was moro or less latent animosity against tho Fnrratos. In Corsica animosity and hatred aro not very far apart Cortain things occurred which embittered this animosity. Ono day Andrea, driven out of patience, in a moment of anger, killed a well-known vagabond who was threat ening him, and lie had to seek safoty in flight. But Andrea Ferrato was not at all tho man to take refuge in tho maquis to live a life oi daily strife ns much against tho polico as against tho companions and friends of tho deceased, to ponotrate a series of rovenges which would end by reaching his own peoplo. Resolving to expatriate himself, ho managed to leavo Corsica secretly, and reached tho Sar dinian coast. When his wifo had real ized their property, given up tho houso at Santa Manza, sold tho furniture, tho boat nnd tlio nets, sho crossed over and joined him. Thoy had given up their native laud forovor. But the murder, although it vrat justi fiably committed in self-defence, weighed on Andrea's conscience. With tho some what superstitous ideas duo to his origin he greatly desired to ransom it no had heard that a man's death is nover par doned till the day when tho murderer saves another life at tlio risk of his own. Ho made up his mind to save a life as soon as an occasiou presented itself. Andrea did not remain long in Sur- dinia, where ho would easily havo been recognized and discovered. Energotio and bravo, although ho did not fear for himself ho feared for those who belonged to him, ho feared that tho reprisals of family on family might reach thom. Ho merely waited till he could go without oxciting suspicion, and then sailed for Italy, whero at Anconn nn opportunity oQcrod him to cross the Adriatio to the Istrian coast of which ho availed himself. And that is tho story of why tho Cor sican had settled at Ro vigno. For seven teen years ho had followed his trado as a fishorman and had become as well off as ho had been. Nino years afterwards a son was born to him, who had been named Luigi. His birth cost his mother hor life. Andrea Ferrato now lived entirely for his daughter nud his son. Mario, then aged eighteen, aotod as mother to tho little boy of eight And oxcopt tho deep aud oonsUnt griof for tho loss of his wifo tho fishorman of Roviguo was as happy as ho could bo in his work and tho consciousness of having douo his duty. Ho was respected throughout tho district Ho was over ready to help, and his advice wos always valuable. Ho was known to bo clover at his trade. Among tho long ridges of rocks whioh guard tho Istriau Bhoro ho had no reason to regret tho Gulf of Santa Maura or tho Straits of Bonifaoio. He had become an excellent pilot in thoso parts whero tho samo language is spoken as in Corsica. From his pilotage of tho ships between Pola and Trieste ho earned almost as mnoh as from his fishing. Aud in his house tho poor were not forgotten, and Marin did her best in works of charity. But tho fisherman of Santa Mauza hod never forgotteu his vow a lifo for a life I Ho had taken ono man's life. Ha would save another's. That was why, when the two fugi- ni Miomsalvcs at nis floor. guessing who thoy woro, knowing tho penalty to which ho was exposing him self, he had not hesitated to Bay to thom, " Como in," nnd adding in his thoughts, " And may heaven protect us all 1" Tlio squadron of police passed tho door and did not stop. Sandorf and Bathory could thus fancy they wero safo at least for that night Tlio hut was built not in tho town itself, but about fivo hundred yards from its walls, below tho harbor and on a ridgo of rocks which commanded tlio beach. Beyond, at less than a cable's length, was tho sea breaking on tho sands nnd stretching away to tho distant hori zon. Towards tho southwest thoro jut ted out the promontory whose curve shuts in the small roadstead of Rovigno. It had but four rooms, two at tho front and two at the back, but thero was a leau-to of boards in which tho fishing and other tacklo was kept Such was tho dwelling of Andrea Ferrate. His boat was a balanccllo with a Bquaro stern, nbout thirty foot long, rigged with n mainsail and foresail a description of boat well adapted for trawling. When sho was not in uso she was moored insido tho rocks, nnd a littlo boat drawn up on the beach wns used in journeying to and from hor. Behind tho houso was nn cnclosuro of nbout half an ncre, in which a fow vegetables grow among tho mulberry and olive trees and tho vines. A hedge separated it from a brook about six feet broad, and beyond was the open country. Such wns this humblo but hospitnblo dwelling to which Providence had led the fugitives ; bucIi was tho host who risked his liberty to give them shelter. As soon as tho door closed on them Sandorf and Bathory examined tho room into which tho fisherman had welcomed them. It was tho principal room of tho houso, furnished in a way tliat showed tho tasto and assiduity of a careful housekeeper. "First of all you want something to cat?" said Andrea. "Yes, wo aro dying with hunger 1" answered Sandorf. "For twelve hours we havo had no food." "You understand, Maria." And in n few minutes Maria had put on tho tabic somo salt pork, somo boiled fish, n flask of tho local wino of tho dry grape, with two glasses, two plntcs nnd a white tablo-cloth. A "veglione," a sort of lamp with threo wicks fed with oil, gavo light in tho room. Sandorf and Bathory eat down to tho tablo ; thoy wero quite exhausted. "But you ?" said they to tho fishorman. "Wo havo had our meal," answered Andrea. Tho two famished men devoured that is tho propor word tho provisions which wero offered with such simplicity and heartiness. But as thoy ate they kept their eyes on tho fisherman, his daughter nnd his son who sat in n corner of the room aud looked at them back without saying a word. Andrea was then about forty-two, a man of severo expression, even a littlo sorrowful, with expressivo features, a sunburnt face, black eyes and a keen look. He woro tho dress of tho lisher meu of tho Adriatic, and was evidently of active, powerful build. Maria whoso faco and figure recalled her mother was tall, graceful, protty rather than handsome, with bright, black eyes, brown hair aud a complexion lightly tinted by tho vivacity of her Corsican blood. Serious by reason of tho duties she hod fulfilled from her childhood, having in hor nttitudo and movemonts tho serenity a reflective nature gives, everything nbout her showed an energy that would never fail, no matter in what circumstances sh might bo placed. Many times slio had been sought in marriage by the young fishermen of tho country, but in vain. Did not all her life belong to her father and tho child who was so dear to him ? That boy Luigi was already an expe rienced sailor hard-working, bravo and resolute. Bareheaded in wind aud rain ho accompanied Andrea in his fishing nnd piloting. Later on ho promised to be a vigorous man, well trained and well built, moro than bold, oven audacious, ready for anything and careless of dan ger. Ho loved his father. Ho adored his sister. Count Sandorf had beon keenly exam ining theso threo, united in such touch ing affection. That ho was among people ho could trust ho felt sure. When tho meal wns finished Andrea rose and approaching Sandorf said : "Go nnd sleep, gentlemen. No ono knows you aro hero. To-morrow wo can talk." "No, Andrea Ferrato, no !" said San dorf. "Our hunger is now appeased 1 Wo havo recovered our strength I Lot us leavo tho houso this instant, whero our prosouco is so dangerous to you and yours." "Yes, let us leave," added Bathory. " And may heaven roward you for what you havo done." " Go and Bleep ; it is necessary," said tho fisherman. "The beach is watched to-night An embargo has been put upon nil the ports ou tho coast You can do nothing now." "Bo it bo, if you. wish it" answered Saudorf. "I wish it" "Ono word only. When was our escapo known ?" "This morning," nnswnred Andrea. "But thero were four prisoners in the donjon of Pisino. You aro only two. Tho third, they say, was set free." " Sarcauy I" oxclaimed Sandorf, imme diately ohecking the movement of anger that seized him as ho heard tho hated name. "And tho fourth ?" asked Bathory, without daring to finish tho sonteuce. " Tho fourth is still living," answered Ferrato. "His execution has been put off." " Living 1" exclaimed Bathory. "Yos," nnswered Sandorf, ironically. "Thoy are keeping him till they have got us, to give us tlio pleosuro of dying togethor." "Maria," said Ferrato, "take our guests to tho room at the bock, but do not havo a light The window must UoJ show from without that there is a light in tho room. You can then go to bod. Luifri and I will wateh." "Yes, father," answered tho boy. " Como, sirs," said the girl A moment afterwards Sandorf and his companion exchanged a cordial shako of the hand with tho fisherman. Thon thoy passed into tho chamber whero thoy found two good mattresses of maize on which they could rest after so many fatigues. But already Andrea had left tho houso with Luigi. Ho wished to assuro him self that no ono was prowling round the neighborhood, neither on tho beach nor boyond tho brook. Tho fugitives then could slcop in peace till tho morning. Tho night passed without advonturo. Tho fisherman had frequently been out Ho had seen nothing suspicious. In tho morning of the 18th of Juno, whilo his guests were still asleep, Andrea went out for news into tho centre of tho( town aud along tho wharves, Thero woro many groups talking over tho events of the past day. Tho placard stuck up tho evening beforo relating tho escape, tho ponalties incurred and tho reward promised formed tho general subject of conversation. Some wcro gossiping, some detailing tho latest news, ' somo repeating tho rumors in vaguo"1 terms which meant nothing in partic ular. Thero was nothing to show that Sandorf and his companion hnd boon seen in the neighborhood, nor oven that thero was any suspicion of their prosenco in tho province. About ten o'clock, when the sergeant and his m m ontored Rovigno after thoir night expedition, a rumor spread that two strangers had been seen twenty-four hours beforo on tho Lemo Canal. Tho distriot from thoro to tho sea had been searched for them in vain. Thero was not a vestigo of their visit. Had they then reached the coast, possessed themsolves of a boat nnd gono to somo other part of Istria, or had thoy crossed tho Austrian frontier ? It would seem so. "Good," said 0110 of the men. "Thero aro fivo thousand florins saved to tho treasury." "Money that might bo better spent than in paying rascally informers 1" "And thoy have managed to escape?" TO UK CONTINUED. Life in Montevideo. Everybody rides. No ono thinks of walking. Each family has its carriage and saddle-horse, and even beggars go about the streets on horseback. It is a common thing to be stopped on tho street by a horseman and asked for a "centavo," which is worth two and a half cents of our money. These inci dents are somewhat startling at first, nnd suggest highway robbery, but tho appeal is made in such a humble, pitiful tone that tho feeling of alarm soon van ishes. "For tho lovo of Jesu, sonor, give a poor, sick man a centavo. 1'vo hnd no bread or coflee to-day." And receiving the pittance the beggar will gallop oil' like a cowboy to tho nearest drinking place. The national drink is called cana (pro nounced ennynhj, and is mado of tho fermented juice of the sugar-cane. It contains about 90 per cent, alcohol and is sold at two cents a goblet, so that a 3preo in Uruguay is within tho reach of the poorest "man. But thero is very littlo intemperance in comparison with that in our own country. On ordinary days drunken men aro seldom seen upon tho streets, hut on tho evening after a religious feast tho common people usually engage in a glorious carousal. Tho vestibules of the tcncnient houses, and tho patios or courts which invariably furnish a cool loafing placo in tho centre of each, arc commonly paved with tho knuckle bones of sheep, arranged in fantastic designs, liko mosaic work. They always attract tho atten tion of strangers, "and it is a standing joke to tell the tender-foot that they aro the knuckle bones of human beings killed during tho many revolutions. Tho ladies of Uruguay are considered to rank next to their sisters of Peru in beauty, and there is something about the atmos phere which gives to their complexions a purity and clearness that arc not else where found. But when they reach ma turity, like all Spanish ladies, thoy loso their grace and symmetry of form and become very stout. This is undoubtedly owing in a great degree to their lack of exercise, for they never walk, but spend their entire lives in a carriage or a rocking-chair. Letter to Chicago fntcr Ocean. Postage Stamps. Few people, perhaps, realize of how recent origin is tho postage stamp. It was first issued by Great Britain in 1840. Brazil was the first nation to follow tho example, which they did in 1S1I3, and in 1817 tho United States began tho use of postago stamps. Thero are now 211 stamp-issuing countries. It is estimated now that every year some 50,000,000, 000 letters are 'posted in the world. America loads with about 2,.r)00,000.000, and England follows with 700,000.000. Japan now mails annually 95,000.000 letters, and tho cancelled stamps on theso letters aro worth an averago of ono cent each. Last vear thero wcro 20,000 letters poated in England without any address on them. In l.COO of theso gold coins and money wcro inclosed. Tho cancelled postago stamps of many countries aro worth quite as much as unused specimens, and many aro issued solely for collections, tho revenue being an important item. Monaco is tho latest to issue stamps; but Stellaland, with its "fifty houses and threo storesVis probably tho most in significant, oven moro so than Heligo land or tho Virgin islands. Bhopal has tho oldest stamp, Nicaragua tho finest, Siberia tho largest, Zealand tho smallest. Guatemala tho most striking nnd Sara wak and Great Britain divide tho honor of havin"- the cheapest and meanest. Brookvfilc (Pa.) Democrat. A novel charitable society has been organ ized In riflladelplila. It Is called the Doll so ciety, and members contribute 15 cents a year and a dressed dolt IU declgn Is to brighten the Christmas of the children reached by the free kindergartens. f Champagne bottles formed the smoke-stacks of a floral ship that was presented to an actor In St. Louis the other night. Moreover, the bottles were as full as the actor himself subi quentlv became.
