The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-01-15

There they stripped and waited while
the sun dried their clothes. The fishing
vessels were leaving the Lenc Canal aud
M far as they could see the place was
deserted
The man who had been watching them
since they landed now got up and care
fully noted the position of the hut.
And then he disappeared around knoll
and made off towards the south
Three hours afterwards Sa. .dorf and
his companion resumed their clothes.
They were still damp, but it was neces-
sary to move on.
1--WE must not stay too long in this
hut" said Bathory.
do you feel yourself strong enough
to start 2" asked Sandorf.
liam almost exhausted with hunger!"
"Let us try to reach the coast
There we may perhaps procure some
thing to emit and something to take us to
sea. Come Stephen I"
And they left the hut. evidently suffer-
ing more from hunger than fatigue
Sandorf's intention was to follow the
southern bank of the Leme Canal until
he reached the sea. The country was
deserted, it is true, but quite number
of streams intersected it on their way to
the estuary. This watery network along
the banks is nothing more nor less than
q vast sponge, and the mud is impas-
sable, so that the fugitives had to strike
southwark obliquely, easily keeping
their course by the sun, which had now
risen. For two hours they kept on with
out meeting human being. and with
out finding anything to satisfy the hum
ger that was devouring them.
Then the country became less arid.
They found a road running east and
west, which boosted milestone that
gave no indication as to the region
across which they were feeling their way
like the blind. There were, however,
some hedges of mulberry trees, and
farther Oh field of sorghum, which
enabled them to allay their hunger or
rather to cheat the wants of their
stomachs. The sorghum chewed and
even eaten, and the refreshing null
berries, might perhaps be enough to
keep them from exhaustion before they
reached the coast.
But if the country was inhabited, if q
few fields showed that the hand of man
was employed about them. the fugitives
had to be careful how they met tbs
inhabitants.
About noon five or six foot passengers
appeared on the road. AS q matter of
caution Sanlorf thought he and Bathory
had better get out of sight. Fortunately
IL. 4 r,1
lay some fifty yards to the left. There.
before they had been noticed, he and his
companion took refuge i'll kind of dark
cellar, where in the event of any ono
stopping at the farm they ran little risk
of discovery if they waited till the night.
The foot passengers were peasants
and salt marsh workers. Some were
driving q flock of geese, doubtless to
market at some town or village which
could not be very far from the canal
Men and women were clothed Ill lstrlan
style, with the jewels, medals, earrings
breast crosses and filigree pendants
which ornament the ordinary costume OF
both sexes. The salt marsh workers
We're more simply dressed, as with sack
on back and stick i'll hand they marched
along 20 the salterns in the neighbor-
hood, or perhaps even to the important
establishments ut Stagnone or Pirano i'll
the west of the province.
Some of them stopped when they
reached the farm and rested for little
ON the doorstep. They talked in loud
voice, not without IL certain animation,
but only of things concerning their
trade.
The fugitives leant against the COR
ner and listened. Perhaps these people
had already heard of the escape and
were talking about it ? Perhaps they
We're saying something which might re-
veal i'll what part OF Istria they then
were.
Not word passed on the subject.
They could only continue to uess.
eff the country people say nothing
abou our escape IT is a fair inference
said Sandorf, that they have not yet
heard Oft
"That," said Bathory, would go to
prove that we are some distance from
the fortress Considering the rapidity
of the torrent which kept us under
ground for more than six hours / am not
surprised at that.
"That must be it, said Sandorf.
A couple of hours passed, and then
come salt-workers as they passed the
farm without stopping We're heard to
speak about the gendarmes they had met
at the gate of the town.