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.