The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-01-29

highest point OF their !orrnev 'ne
speed was much increased and occa-
sionally the wheels had to be skidded.
In fact after leading through the hilly
country commanded by Mont Mnjeur,
the road drops down obliquely ns it ap-
proaches Pisino. Although the town is
very much above sea level it seems TO
be in deep valley to Judge from the
neighboring hills. Some distance be-
fore it is reached the campanile above
the houses picturesquely grouped on
the hillside becomes visible.
Pisino is the chief place of the dis
trict, and contains about "a, 900 inha6i-
tants, 1t is situated almost in the cen.
tre of the peninsula, and particularly at
fair time large business is done among
the mixed population of Morlaques,
Sclaves of different tribes, and even
Tsiganes, who flourish there.
The capital of Istria is an old city, and
has retained its feudal character This
strikingly appears in the ancient castle,
which towers above several more mod
ern military establishments where the
administration OF the government is
carried on.
1t was in the courtyard of this castle
that the post-chaise stopped on the 9th
of June, about ten O'Clock in the morn.
ing, after a journey Of fifteen hours.
Count Sandorf, his two companions aud
Sarcany left the vehicle, and few min
utes afterwards were shown into separ.
ate vaulted cells.
Although they had had no commune
cation with each other, and had not been
able to exchange ideas in any way yet
Sandorf, Zathmar and Bathory were all
engaged in pondering over the same
subject. How lad the secret of the
plot been discovered? Had the police
come on the track by chance? There
had recently been no correspondence
between Trieste and the Hungarian and
Transylvanian towns Was there
traitor in the camp? But who could be
the traitor? Confidence had been
placed in none. There were no papers
to fall into spy 8 hands Allthe docu-
ments had been destroyed. Had they
| rummaged the most secret corners of
the Acquedotta they would not have
found single suspicious note! And
that is what had happened. The police
had discovered nothing the
grating, which Zathmar had not de-
stroyed incase he wanted it for further
use But unhappily the grating was
serious evidence, for it was impossible
to explain its use except as Il means of
ciphered correspondence.
In fact, everything rested on the copy
OF the message that Sarcany, with Tor
%hoI had hon,lol fr,
the Governor of Trieste after having
made out its real meaning. But, UNI
fortunately, that was quite enough to
make good the accusation of conspiring
| against the state; and it has been de-
cided to bring Count Sandorf and his
friends before special tribunal, mil
itary tribunal, which, would proceed in
military fashion.
Sarcany's game wasa deep one, and
| he played it with the coolness and de-
Liberation that distinguished him. He
had allowed himself to be arrested. to be
convicted, if need be, on the under.
standing that he should receive "A par
don; and in this way he hoped to disarm
suspicion.
Sandorf was completely deceived by
! him-and who would not have been?
and resolved to do his utmost to clear
/ him of the charge. 1t would not be
difficult, he thought, to show that Sar-
c;lny had taken no part in the conspir-
acy, that he was merely an accountant
only recently introduced into Zathmar's
house to arrange certain private matters
which in no way had reference to the
plot If ncedful, he could call Silas
Toronthal to testify to the young mans
innocence. There could be no doubt,
therefore, that Sarcany would be found
innocent of having been either aprinci-
pal of accessory, in the event OF the
prosecution being persisted in.
| The Austrian Government knew
nothing of the conspiracy beyond what
they heard at Trieste. The conspirators
Of Hungary and Pennsylvania remained
absolutely unknown. There was no
trace i'll existence OF their completely in
the plot. Sandorf, Bathory and Zath-
mar need have felt no anxiety on this
head. AS far as they were concerned
they had made up their minds to deny
everything until some material evil
dence was produced In that case they
know that their lives were forfeited.
Others would one day take up the
movement that had now proved abortive.
The cause of independence would find
new leaders, If they were convicted
they would avow what had been their
hopes. They would show the object at
which they had aimed, and which one
day or the other would be attained.
1t was not without some reason that
Count Snndorf and his two friends
thought that the action of the police
had been restricted in the matter. At
Buda, at Pesth, at Klausenburg, in all
the towns in which the rising was to
take place at the signal from Trieste
inquiries had been made in vain. That
was why the Government had arrested
the chiefs so secretly at Trieste, They
had sent them to Pisino, and desired
thn. nothing should be known of the
matter, in the hope that something
would happen to betray the seuders Of
the cipher message. The hope was not
realized. The expected signal was not
given The movement was stopped for
Il time at least. The Government had
to content itself with trying Sandorf
and his companions for high treason.
The inquiries took several days; and
ii was not till the Goth of June that the
proceedings began with the examination
of the accused They were not even
confronted with each other, and We're
only to meet before their judges.
The chiefs of the Trieste conspiracy
were, rs we have said, to be tried before
court martial. The proceedings be-
fore such court never take long, the
trial is conducted very quickly, and
there is no delay i'll the execution of the
sentence.
1t was so in this matter,
On the 25th of June the court martial
met in one of the lower rooms of the
fortress of Pisino, and the eaccused were
brought before it. The proceedings did
not take very long, and nothing start
ling was discovered
The Court opened at nine o'clock in
the morning. Count Sandorf, Count
Zathmar and Professor Bathory, on the
one side, and Sarcany on the other, saw
each other for the first time since theil
imprisonment. The clasp of the hanC
which Sandorf and his friend inter
changed as they met, gave yet another
proof of their unanimity. A sign from
| Xnthmar and Rath0rv uova San1orf "a