The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-02-19

"They are keeping him till they have
got us, to give us the pleasure of dying
together"
| Maria said Ferrato, "take our
guests to the room ut the back, but do
not have light The window must
not show from without that there is
light in the room. You can then go to
bed, Luigi and will watch"
Yes father" answered the boy.
"Come, sirs said the girl.
| A moment afterwards Sandorf and
his companion exchanged a cordial shake
OF the hand with the fisherman. Then
they passed into the chamber where they
found two good mattresses of maize on
which they could rest after so many
fatigues.
But already Andrea had left the house
with Luigi. He wished to assure him.
self that no one was prowling round the
neighborhood, neither on the beach nor
beyond the brook. The fugitives then
could sleep in peace till the morning
The night passed without adventure.
The fisherman had frequently been out
He had seen nothing suspicious.
In the morning of the 18th of June,
while his guests were still asleep, Andrea
went out for news into the centre of the
town and along the wharves There
were many groups talking over the
events of the past DAY. The placard
stuck up the evening before relating the
escape, the penalties incurred and the
reward promised formed the general
subject of conversation. Some were
gossiping, some detailing the latest news
some repeating the rumors in vague
terms which meant nothing in partic-
ular. There was nothing to show that
oandorf and his companion had been
seen i'll the neighborhood, nor even that
there was any suspicion oftheir presence
J in the province. About ten o'clock,
when the sergeant and his men entered
Rovigno after their night expedition,
rumor spread that two strangers had
been seen twenty-four hours before ON
The Leme Canal. The district from
there to the sea had been searched for
them in vain. There was not vestige
of their visit. Had they then reached
the coast, possessed themselves of
boat and gone to some other part of
lstria, or had they crossed the Austrian
frontier? 1t would seem So
GOOD, said one of the men. "There
are five thousand florins saved to the
treasury
Money that might be better spent
than in paying rascally informers |"
"And they have managed to escape?"
| Escape? Yes. And they are safe
on the other side of the Adriatic,"
| From this conversation, which took
place among group of peasants,
workingmen and shopkeepers who were
standing in front of one of the placards,
it seemed that public opinion was rather
in favor of the fugitives-at least among
the people of Istria, who are either
Sclaves or Italians by birth. The Aus
trian officials could hardly count on
their being betrayed to them.
But they were doing all they could to
recover the fugitives. All the squadrons
of police and companies of gendarmerie
had been afoot since the evening, and an
incessant- exchange of dispatches was
taking place between Rovigno Pisino
and Trieste.
| When Andrea returned home about
eleven o'clock he brought back the news,
which was thus rather favorable than
| otherwise.
Sandorf and Bathory had had their
| breakfast taken them into their room
| by Maria, and We're finishing it as he
appeared. The few hours sleep, the
good food and the careful attention had
entirely recovered them from their
| fatigues.
"Well, my good friend ?" asked Count
Sandorf as soon as Andrea closed the
| door.
| Gentlemen, do not think you have
anything to be afraid of at tpresent."
| "But what do they say in the town."
asked Bathory.
"They are talking good deal about
two strangers who were seen yesterday
morning when they landed on the bank
of the T.emr Canal and that concerns
you.
sit does concern U.S." answered
Bathory. "A man, saltworker in the
| neighborlood has seen and reported us.
And Andrea Ferrato was told of what
| had passed at the ruined farm while they
were in hiding.
| And you do not know who this in.
formerw 2 asked the fisherman.
| 1--WE did not see him" replied San.
dorf; 1--WE could only hear him."
THAT is pity, said Ferrato. but
the important thing is that they have
| lost trace of You, and if it is supposed
that you have taken refuge in my house
L do not think any one would betray
you. The promise of one is binding on
| all IN these parts.
| "ies, answered Sandorf, "and | am
not surprised at that. A fine lot of fel-
| lows are the people of these provinces!
But We have to do with the Austrian
officials, and they will not leave stone
| unturned to retake u.s."
There is one thing in your favor"
said the fisherman, "and that is the
| pretty general opinion that you have
| already crossed the Adriatic,"
| And would to heaven they hadw
added Maria, who had joined her hands
as if in prayer.
That We shall do, my dear child"
said Sandorf, in tone of entire conf
dence, "t that We shall do with heavens
help"
And mine, Count" replied Andrea.
Nov l am going on with my work as
usual. People are accustomed to see us
getting our nets ready on the beach, or
cleaning up the balancello, and we must
not alter that. Besides l must go and
study the weather before decide what
to do. You remain in this room. Do
not leave it on any pretext. If necessary
you can open the window on to the
| yard, but remain at the back of the
room and do not let yourselves be seen.
lwlll come back in an hour or two"
| Andrea then left the house accompan-
Jed by Luigi, and Maria busted herself
with the housework as usual
| A few fishermen were on the beach.
AS matter of precaution he went and
exchanged few words with them be-
fore beginning on his nets.
The wind is pretty steady now."
said one of them.
"Yes, answered Andrea, "that last
storm cleared the weather for u.s."
" Hum" added another, "the breeze
will treshen towards evening and turn
to storm if the bora joins in with it,"
Good Then the wind will blow off
the land, and the sea will not be SO lively
among the rocks.
I'VE shall see /"
Are you going fishing TONIGHT