St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-23
CHAPTER XIII.
A--A- -@LN -LAAAs
THE FISHERMAE's HUT.

| OF the southern point OF the island. This
port and BaStia and Porto NecchiO are the
only ones that open onto that monOtonous
easteSn coast OF which the sea has gradually
destroyed the capeS. filled up the CULTS,
effaced the bays, and devOuTed the creeks.
1t was al Santa Mama, on that narrow
portion of the sea between Corsica and the
Italian mainland, and often among the
| rocks Of the straits of BOnifacio that An
drea Ferrato followed his trade as a fisher
man. Twenty years before he had married
young girl of Sartene. Two years after
wards they had had a daughter who was
chriStened Maria. The fisherman's calling
IS a rough one. particularly when to the
fishing for fish there is added the fishing
for coral, which has to be sought for at the
| bottom of the most dangerous channels in
the strait. But Andrea FeTTatO was bold.
| robust, indefatigable. as clever with the net
as with the trawl. His business prOSpered.
His wife, active and intelligent, ruled the
/ little house at Santa Mama % perfection.
Both Of them knew how TO read. write and
! calculate. were fairly educated. if we COM
pare them with the $50. 600 who cannot
write their names which statistics now re-
veal 10 exist out of the go, 900 inhabitants
| of the island
BeSideS-perhapS on account of this edu-
cation-Andrea FerratO was very French
in his ideas and feelings. although he was
OF Italian origin. like the majority of the
CorSicans. And at that time this had occa-
stoned some luminosity against him.
The canton, in fact. situated at the south
em extremity of the island. far from Bastia.
far from Ajaccio, far from the chief centers
OF administration, is al heart very much Op-
posed TO everything that is not Italian OF
Sardlnlan-a regrettabe state OF things
that we hope TO see the end of us the new
generations become better educated.
Hence, as we have said, there was more
or less latent luminosity against the FeTratoS.
In Corsica luminosity and hatred are not
very far apart. Certain things occurred
which embittered this animOsity. One day
Andrea, driven out of all patience, in mo-
ment of anger killed a well-known vaga-
bond who was threatening him; and had TO
seek safety in flight.
But Andrea FerratO was not at all the
man to take refuge in the maquis, to live
LIE OF daily strife as much against the pO-
lice as against the companions and friends
OF the deceased, 10 perpetrate series of
revenSes which would end by reaching his
own people Resolving TO eXpatriate him
self, he managed to leave Corsica secretly
| and reach the Sandman coast. When his
wife had realized their property. given up
the house at Santa Mama, sold the furni-
ture, the boat. and the nets, she crossed
over and joined him. They had given up
their native land forever.
But the murder, although il was iustifia-
bly, committed in self-defenSe. weighed on
Andrea's conscience. With the somewhat
SupcrStitiOus ideas due 10 his origin. he
greatly desired 10 ransom it, He had heard
that a mans death is never pardOned till the
day when the murderer saves another mans
life at the risk of his own. He made up
his mind to save life as soon as an coca
sion presented itself.
Andrea did not remain long In Sardinia.
where he would easily have been recognized
and discovered. Energetic and brave. al
though he did not fear for himself he feared
for those who belonged to him. he feared
that the repriSals OF family on family might
reach them. He merely waited till he
could go without exciting suspicion and
sailed for Italy where. At AncOna. an CD
portunity offered for him to cross the Adri-
attic 10 the Istrian coast, of which he availed
himself.
And that is the story of why the Corsican
had settled at ROvignO. For seventeen
years he had followed his trade as a fisher
mainland had become as well OF As he had
been. Nine years afterwards a son was
born TO him, VINO was named Luigi. His
birth cost his mother her life.
Andrea FerratO now lived entirely for his
daughter and his son. Maria. then aged
IS, acted as mother 10 the little boy of s
And except the deep and constant grief FOR
the loss ofhis wife the fisherman OF Ro-
vigno was as happy as he could be in his
work and the consciousness Of having done
his duty. lie was respected Throughout the
district lie was ever ready TO help and
his advice was always valuable lie was
known 10 be clever at his trade. Among the
long ridges of rocks which guard the Istrian
shore he had no reason TO regret the Gulf
of Santa Mama or the Straits of Bonifacio.
He had become an excellent pilot i'm those
parts where the same language is spoken as
in Corsica. From his pilOtage of the shipS
between Pola and Trieste he earnt almost a
much as from his fishing. And in his house
the poor were not forgotten. and Maria
did her best in works OF charity.
But the fisherman of Santa Mama had
never forgotten his vow; life for a life
He had taken one mans life. lie would
save anotheTs.
That was why when the two fugitives
presented themselves at his door. guessing
who they Were, knowing the penalty to
which he was exposing himself, he had not
hesitated 10 say to them: Come i'm. - and
adding in his thoughts, land may Heaven
protect us all,''
The squadron OF police passed the door
and did not stop. Sandorf and Bathorv
could thus fancy they were safe-at least
for that night.
The hut was built not in the town itself.
but about 500 yards from its walls; below
the harbOr and on a ridge of rocks which
commanded the beach. Beyond, at less
than cables length was the sea. breaking
on the sands and stretching away to the
distant horizon. Towards the southwest
were jutted out the promOntory whose
curve shuts in the small roadstead of Ro-
Yingo.
Ii ha dbut four rooms, two at the front
and two at the back. but there was a lean-to
OF boards in which the fishing and other
tackle were kept. Such was the dwelling
of Andrea FerTato. His boat was a bal
ancelle with square stern about thirty
feet long. rugged with mainsail and fore
sail-a description of boat well adapted for
travelling. When she was not in use she
mOOred inside the rocks, and a little boat
drawn up on the beach was used in journey
ing TO and from her. Behind the house
was an enclosure of about half an acre.
in which a few vegetables grew among
mulberry and olive trees and the vines. A
u6N-c SCldIdttQ IL lloAi a Blooh duOul SIX
feet broad and beyond was the open coun-
try.
Such was this humble but hospitable
dwelling TO which Providence had led the
fugitives; such was the host who risked his
liberty to give them shelter.
As soon as the door closed on them, San
dorf and Bathory examined the room into
which the fisherman had welcomed them.
1t was the principal room of the house,