Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-06-12
The Three Hunohbacks.

credible narrative We extract from lat,
French publication. 1t is neatly told, anC
will be read with interest:
Three brothers, all humpbacked, and al
accurately alike In appearance, lived a
Basancon. One of them killed a man in {
chance medley, but not being taken on the
moment, the prosecutors could only swear
that one of the three brothers had done the
| deed Rather than put an innocent man tC
death, the judge let the guilty one escape
but to avoid further Inconvenience Of the
kind, he bauished all from the province.
One settled in Paris, became rich, and mar
RED the others, after nearly starving IN
England, returned and paid visit to their
fortunate brother.
The master of the house was abroad when
they knocked and the poor wife was troubled
more than little by the visit. MY hus-
band Is very jealous, said she to them
while she was giving them something to eat.
Y ou must go to the tarthest quarter OF the
town, and never come here again but L II
make your brother attend to your wants. y
While she was speaking she heard her hus-
band S knock, and cried out, Follow me if
you value your lives"
She ordered the servant not 20 open the
door till she returned, and then conveyed
the brothers down the stairs and locked
them in the cellar. Her husband scolded
for being kept out so long, but good dim
ner restored him to good hunor, and at
night he went out to pay visit.
The wife then went down to the cellar, and
there found the two poor brothers dead, one
lying here, the other there. What was to
be done? She sent for a strong Auvergant,
brought him down stairs, showed him one
corpse which she had previously taken out
nf Ia all -nl /
his return, after having thrown it into the
Seine He made no scruple about the mat
ter, but popped the body into the sack, took
it to the bridges and shook it into the river.
Returning for his reward, the wife disputed
his claim, as the body was still lying outside
the cellar door. Here the stupeted man
saw what he firmly believed to be the corpse
he had thrown from the bridge, and resign
ing himself TO destiny, he got 1t into his
sack and went through the ceremony the
second time. Coming back, he was terrified
and enraged by finding the twice drowned
corpse knocking at his own door. Are
these your tricks, master?" said he. 'Ah,
Monsieur Ghost clever as you are, [ IL set
tie you the third trial. "
80 saying, he forced the poor husband
into the sack, carried him to the same spot,
and effected the third discharge. This time
he retulned in triumph, for the wife, igno-
rant OF her husband 5 fate, and having no
more corpses to remove, paid him twice
what she had cOvenantcd, and gave him a
glass OF wine into the bargain.
Your good health, madame, said he,
you are better than you promised, but L
earned it. [ found the humpbacked rogue
or his ghost knocking at your door after L
had thrown him in the second lime.
"Oh. wretch ! cried the poor woman,
you have drowned my husband ~
While she was sore aiming and he standing in
amazement the gendalmes entered, secur-
ed both, and sent them to prison. Next day
they were brought before the magistrate of
the quarter and examined The poor wife
concealed nothing: the Auvergant was not
called on for an explanation; and while both
were awaiting sentence of death the three
brothers, in full life, but with pale faces,
were ushered into the room. Some fisher
men stationed near the bridge had saved the
three. The unmarried men had only been
dead drunk in the cellar, and the submer-
sion, and the consequent pulling and haul
ing and eectment of wine and water, had
recovered them from their drunken lethar-
gy before the natural time. On their first
appearance before the magistrate they could
give no explanation of their visit to the
river, and the husband had no idea OF the
cause of his being seized on, but his wife s
explanation made all clear
The king hearing of the strange adven-
ture, settled d pension IN the unmarried
men, but they were not to dwell within fifty
miles OF Paris, and the married man was
not jealous for year and day after his
Seizure and escape from the river.