Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-01-22
Matthias SandOTf.
JULES VERNE.
AUTHOR OF JOURNEY To THE CENTRE
OF THE EARTH, "TRIP TO THE MOON,
"ARoUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY
DAYS, MICHAEL STROGoFP,"
TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES
UNDER THE SEA, ETC, ETC.
lrRANsLArroN COPYRIGHTED. 1851
CHAPTER XII.
THE RUINED FARM.

49, 'NA+'A-N A@NiNnis
Snndorf thinking all was safe went
back to the tree, lifted his companion in
his arms and laid him on the bank He
knew nothing of where he was or where
he was to go.
Ia realty this sheet of water, which
serves as the mouth of the FOiba, is
neither a lagoon nor lake, but an
estuary. 1t bears the name of Leme
Canal and 1t communicates with the
Adriatic by n narrow creek between
Orsera and Rovigno on the western side
Of the lStran peninsula. But 1t was
not known before this voyage that its
waters come from the Foiba and were
brought throught the gorge of the Brico
during heavy rains.
A few PAGES from the bank there was a
deserted hut and Sandorf and Ii thory
after a short rest took shelter in it..
There they stripped and waited while
the sun dried their clothes. The fishing
vessels were leaving the Leme Canal and
as 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 a knoll
and made off towards the south
Three h 'urs afterwards Saudorf and
his companion resumed their clothes
They were still damp, but it was neces-
gary to move on.
We must not stay too long in this
hut, said Bathory.
Do you feel yourself strong enough
TO start :" asked Sandorf
:" am almost exhausted with hungerl"
Let us try to reach the coast !
There We may perhaps procure some-
thing 10 eat and something to take us to
Sea. Come Stephen :"
Aud 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 a number
Of streams intersccted it on their way to
the estuary This watery network along
the banks Is nothing more nor less than
a vast sponge. and the mud is impas-
sable, so that the fugtives 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 beng, and with
out finding anything to satisfy the hun
ger that was devouring them.
Then the country became less arid.
They found a road running east and
west, which boosted a milestone that
gave no indication rs TO the region
across which they were feeling their way
like the blind. There were however,
some hedges Of mulberry trees, and
farther on a 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 a
few fields showed that the hand IF man
was employed about them. the fugitives
had to be careful how they met the
Inhabitants.
About noon five or six foot passengers
appeared on the road. AS a matter Of
caution Sandorf Thought he and Bathory
had better get out OF sight Fortunately
an enclosure around IN old ruined farm
lay some fifty yards 10 the left. There,
before they had been noticed, he aud his
companion took refuge in kind of dark
cellar. where in the event of any one
stopping ut the farm they ran little risk
OF discovery If they waited till the night.
The loot passengers were peasants
and salt marsh workers. Some were
driving 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 III Istrian
style. with the jewels, medals, earrings,
breast crosses and filigree pendants
which ornament the ordinary costume Of
both sexes. The salt marsh workers
were more simply dressed, as with sack
on back and stick in hand they marched
along to the salterns III the neighbor-
hood, OF perhaps even to the important
establishments at Stagnone or Pirano In
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 n 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 ths escape and
were talking about il ? Perhaps they
were saying something which might re-
veal in what part of lstria they then
were.
Not word passed on the subject
They could only continue to auess