The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-02-12

accompanied them
He was Spaniard employed in the
salt works in the neighborhood. He
was returning TO the town when the
gendarmes met him. As he told them
that he had been all over the country
between the town and the salt works
they resolved to bring him to the SER
geant for him to interrogote him. The
man had no objection to go with them
The sergeant asked him If he had
noticed any strangers in the salt works.
mo. sergeant, said the man; but
this morning, about an hour after 1
left the town, saw two men who had
just landed atthe point along the canal"
1.-TWO men, do you say?" asked the
sergeant.
YES but rs in these parts we thought
the execution at Bisiuo took place this
morning, and had heard nothing about
the escape, | did not pay much attention
to the men. Now | know what has oc-
CURED should not be surprised if
they were the two you want.
From the corner of the cellar Sandorf
and Bathory could hear every word of
this conversation which affected them
so nearly Then when they landed on
the bank they had been seen.
"What is your name ~ asked the SER
geant.
"Carpena, and / am employed at the
salt works"
Gould you recognize these two men
you saw this morning."
Yes, probably r.
"Well, You can come and make n de-
| al at l,a IL
posal of the police
IL am ut your orders.
"Do you know there is a five thou
sand horins reward for the discovery of
the fugitiyes?"
Five thousand FORMS! r.
"And the hulks to him who harbors
them -
| "You don't say so!'
| 60" said the sergeant.
The Spaniards news had the effect OF
sending off the gendarmes The SER
geant ordered his men to mount and as
night had fallen he started for the
town, after having thoroughly searched
the banks of the canal. Carpena Mt the
same time set ont, congratulatinG him.
self that the capture of the fugitives
would he worth so much to him.
| Sandorf and Bathory remained i'll hid
ing for some time before they left the
cellar which had served them for u
'loe. Their thoughts ran rs follows
| he gendarmerie were on their traces,as
| tuey had been seen and We're likely to he
recognized, the Istrian provinces were
no longer safe for them, aud they must
| leave the country as soon ms possible,
either for Italy, on the other side of the
| Adriatic, or across Dalmatia and the
military frontier
The first plan offered the best chances
of success, providing they could possess
| themselves of vessel, or prevail ON
some fisherman to land them on the
Italian coast. And this plan they
adopted.
Hence about half-pnst eight o'clock,
as soon rs the night was dark enough,
Sandorf and his companion, after leav-
ing the ruined farm. started off towards
the southwest, so as to reach the Adriatic
coast. And at first they We're obliged to
keep to the road to avoid being lost in
the marshes of the Leme.
But did not this unknown road lead to
the town which it put into communica-
ton with the heart of Istria Were
they not running into great danger?
Undoubtedly, but what else could they
do?
About half-past nine the vague ont
line of Il town appeared about a quarter
of mile ahead in the darkness and it
was not easy to recognize it.
1t was n collection of houses clumsily
built in terraces on an enormous mass of
rock which lowered over the sea above
the harbor cut back into the re-entering
angle on one of its sides. The whole
was surmounted by high campanile,
whose proportions We're mucn exagger-
ated il the gloom
Sandorf had quite decided not to enter
the town where the presence of two
visitors would soon be known. He tried,
therefore, to pass round the walls so as
to reach one of the points on the coast il
possible.
But this they did not do without being
followed for come distance by the same
man who had already seen them on the
Leme Cnnal-the same Carpeln wln.se
information they had heard given to the
sergeant of gendarmcrie. In fact as lie
went home and thought over the reward
that had been offered. the Spmiarl left
the road so as to watch it better, and
chance, luckily for him but unluchilv
for them, again put him on the track OF
the fugitives.
Almost mt the same moment sQua,l on
of police came out from one of the gates
of the town and threatened to lmr tao
way. They had only just timo to scrlm-
BILE out of sight, and then to hurry Mt full
speed towards the shore by the side Of
one of the walls of the port.
Here they found n fsherman's Int,
with its little windows lighted M and its
door open. IT they could not find Il
refuge here If the fisherman refused tC
receive them, they We're lost To seek
refuge was to risk everything, but the
time had gone by for hesitation. San
dorf and his companion ran towards the
/, door of the hut and stopped on the
threshold, Inside was man mendinl
his nets by the light of ships lantern.
MY friend asked Count Sandorf
"can youtell me the name of this town ?
"Royingo."
And we are speaking TO?
: andrea Ferrato, the fisherman"
"Will Andrea Ferrato consent to Civ,
; us a nights lodging ?"
Andrea Ferlnto looked at them
advanced towards the door, caught sigh
5 OF the squadron of police at the end o
the wall, diyining doubtless who the!
Were that asked his hospitality ant
, understood that they We're lost if h
) hesitated to reply,
"Come in, he said.
But the two fugitives did not move.
My friend, said Sandorf, "ther
, are five thousand florins reward for who
! ever will give mp the prisoners win
escaped from the douion OF Pisino."
Il know it,
There are hulks," added Sandori
II "for him who harbors them"
u Il know 1t.
F, You could not deliver"
Il told You TO come in come il
: then, answered the fisherman.
II And Andrea Ferato shut the door q
% the squadron of police came trampin
" past the hut