The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-07-29
% FrenchmanP said the Indian. take

ture1 WITH the sack you WILL not nave
more than an Ave between you and
eternity. When You shall have travelled
two days and half the guide will return.
Change clothes with him. Buy a cargo
Of charcoal. Disguise yourself as much
like a charbonero as you can, and place
this sack under the charcoal. When you
shall have hidden the sack securely in
Rio, resume your name and employ
ment. Wait in Rio one year. If you
do not see me in that time you viii re-
turn to Europe with the sack. I shall
be dead. The sack will be yours.
81 offered to give him my name and
the place in which I might be heard of.
He had already obtained both from the
colonial agency | suppose. was then
blindfolded and carried beyond the
limits of the camp.
''It was the rule of the band with all
strangers. In the morning the bandage
was taken off by the guide, who had
walked at my side, and with whom I
did not exchange word except to invite
him to take part of my food and wine,
which he did, sparing1y. Arriving at
the point indicated, the guide stopped.
I obeyed the command to exchange
clothing, in which, indeed, I received
a very poor equivalent. The hat of
coarse fibre, the shirt OF cotton, the
pantaloons of the same material, which
came no lower than my knees, with
coarse sandals, completed the attire.
The guide produced a small gourd con-
tanning the juice OF a plant which gave
brown coloring to the skin. My hair,
which was long and black, was made
straight, and with the slouehed hat, gave
me an intermediate ali as something be-
tween a tadrone and muleteer; a good
deal Of coal dust grined around my neck,
face and eyes, completed the disguise.
The guide applied all this himself, step
ping back and regarding me from time
to time as an artist would. have done his
work. He then took the saddle and
furniture from off the mule and led him
away into the forest In due time he
returned with three large sacks of char
coal bound upon the animal, and gave
me some instructions as to the measures
and prices at which the coal was to be
sold. / knew well enough the money
md measures of the country. The guide
took final look at me. I offered him
money, which he declined by a gesture
He then turned into the forest, and
was left with my mule and his precious
burden. t.ssH@
'T was within three leagues of Rio and
advanced driving the mule before me.
met many of the stolid people who
made signs of salutation with more or
less curiosity. Some seemed to think
[ was q new n1ercltG,ad 6ata chGrbOn, but
none seemed to doubt my nationality.
Of course / kept the mule between N.Y.
self and these passengers as much as
possible. began to think it would do.
My thoughts had indeed escaped from
the peril Of my situation and was
beginning to think once more of Paris
and the Rio Guingette wherein two years
before had left little girl who / had
thought to marry so soon as i should
have acquired the means to do SO. A
prospect was now apparent. began
to retrace her features. It occurred to
my mind that In returning to France as
millionaire should embarrass the poor
girl greatly by elevating her to social
class so far above her own. In Justice
to her, then, would not complicate her,
or myself In thus meditating I was
startled by person who stood. in front
of my mule. To my surprise 1t was the
guide, accoutred just as he had been
before our exchange of habiliments.
"'Senor, said he, the road is guarded
by soldiers. They have heard that a
large value (31auc]5os @fedles) has beAn
taken from the mines, and they await
the bearer. Baenos dos Senor.' And.
this impressive messenger turned and
disappeared. F a3
cit was certainly unnecessary for him
to advise me. turned nv mule from
the pathway into the forest took the
leather sack of diamonds on my shoulder
and proceeded to conceal it in some
place in which no one would be apt to
find it but myself I had nothing but
a knife with which to make an excava-
ton. / worked for several hours, and
having food for myself, led my mule to
water and tethered him to some shrubs
which he seemed to like, and toiled until
late in the night. When the day ap-
peared 1 marked. the way from the path
way in the most prudent manner posi-
BILE, and taking my mule and its cargo,
somewhat diminished in value by the
deposit, resumed my road to market
About II o'clock L was halted by picket
guard They looked at me with sus-
picion, but proceeded Immediately to
examine my charcoal It was emptied
out of the sack on the ground. I was
searched and about to be stripped, which
would have shown marked difference
in the color of my legs and body, when
the Sergeant said
:" Po6re Di4volo, he couldn't have
the diamonds upon him. They, we're in
u leather sack. Let him go. .Jsii8I
"Upon this reprieve | began to gather
up the coal in snch manner that my
resemblance to one Of the trade was
good deal improved. I was asked If
had seen or heard of any one on the
road. told of my purchasing the ami
NAL at the Camp los Perdidos, and so
managed to escape and proceed on the
trip. do not suppose that the house
keepers of Rio had ever made better
bargain for their 6rasieros than in the
sacrifice of my stock. The mule was
converted into money the day after
The purchaser no doubt thought I had
stolen him. returned to my lodgings
at night, resumed my clothing, but
awakened next morning with burning
fever, which increased until it reached
insanity itself.
con my restoration to reason found
the French Consul at my bedside. My
hotel experience was very much that of
Gil Blas-my money, clothing and bag.
gage had been absorbed by the ex-
penses of my illness. The Consul dis
regarded my remonstrances. He had no
funds to pay my board. A vessel bound
for France was in port, and I was sent
on board. From the passengers heard
my own story in detail, except that no
suspicion of a foreigner had been awak-
ened. That was something for the fu-
ture.
81 had indeed nothing at this mo-
ment to remain for; but reserved pur-
pose to return at some future time when
all should have been forgotten, and carry
off te sac en- cuif, pl6in de claimants.
l made the passage to Havre. Soon
after my return to France decided that
there would be little danger of blighting
the future of little Desire lie Blame, by
marrying a millionaire. and so she has