The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-03-26
CHATTER IT.-Continued.


less patter of Point Pescade. With some
sympathy he looked at him showing off
on the platform. Having suffered him.
self he probably could not remain indif-
ferent to the sufferings of others.
1.-Two Frenchmen !" he said to him.
self. Poor fellows! They have not
done much today"
And then the idea occurred to him to
constitute himself an audience-an audi
ence that paid. 1t was only bit of
charity, perhaps, but it was q bit of
charity in disguise, aud it might be well
come
So he advnuced towards the door
that is towards the piece of canvas which
on being raised gave admittance to the
ring;
" We are just going to commence !"
"But-I am alone" said the young
man, good-natur eddy.
''Sir, replied Point Pescade proudly,
and somewhat chaffingly, the true art
list looks at the quality and not at the
quantity of his audience!"
However-you will allow me ?" said
the gentleman taking out his purse.
And he picked out two forms and
placed them on tin plate in o corner of
The platform.
bravo !" said Pescade
Then he turned to his companion
with i:
ITO the rescue, Matifou, to the res
cue! Well give him something for his
money"
But as he was about to step in, the
sole spectator of the French and Pro-
vencal arena, he stopped abruptly. He
had just caught sight of the girl and her
father, who quarter of an hour before
had been listening to the guzlar. Both
he and she had had the same thought
and done q charitable action. The one
had given an aims to the gypsy. the
other had given an aims to the acrobats
But evidently the meeting in this way
was not enough for him-for as soon as
he saw the lady he forgot all about the
arena and the money he paid for his
place, and dashed off towards the spot
where she had again mixed with the
crowd.
Eli! sir sir !" shouted Pescade.
"Your money! We haven't earned it
What's up? Where are you going?
Vanished! Sir!"
But he sought to find his audience
in vain. It had been eclipsed. Then
he looked at Matifou, who with his
mouth wide open was quite as much
astonished as he was.
"Just as we were going to commenced"
said the giant. I've are unlucky."
"Let us commence all the same!
said Pescade, running down the steps
into the ring.
But at this moment there was great
shouting in the direction of the harbor.
The crowd was growing excited, aud
moving towards the seaside, and then
was heard above the din of words:
"The trabacolo the trabacolo!"
The time had come fer the launch of
the small vessel. The sight. always an
attractive one, was OF q kind to excite
public curiosity. And the quays where
the people had gathered were soon
deserted for the yard in which the
launch was to take place.
Point Pescade and Matifou saw that
there was no chance of an audience at
present, and being anxious to find the
solitary stranger who had failed to fill
their arena, they left it without even
stopping to shut the door-and why
should they shut it ?---and walked off to
the yard.
This yard was situated at the end of
point just beyond the harbor, where the
beach sloped gradually to the sea.
Pescade and his companion after good
deal of elbowing found themselves in the
front row of spectators. Never, even
on benefit night, had they had such an
audience.
The shores had been cleared away
from the trabacolo and she was now
ready for the ceremony. The anchor
was ready to be let 60 as soon as the hull
entered the water, so as to stop her run
ming too far out into the channel.
Although the trabacolo measured only
about fifty tons, the mass was consider
able enough for every precaution to be
taken against accident Two of the
workmen of the yard were on deck aft
near the flagstaff that bore the Dalma-
tian colors and two others were forward
standing by the anchor.
The trabacolo was to be sent into the
water stern first, as is done in all other
launches Her keel resting on the
eoaped slide was kept in its place by o