Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-01-22
Andrea

on the fisherman. ms daughter and his
son who sat in IA corner of the room anC
looked at them back without saying q
word. Andrea was then about forty-two
man Of severe expression, even little
sorowful, with expressive features, O
sunburnt face. black eyes and "A keen
look. He wore the dress Of the fisher.
men of the Adriatic and was evidently
OF active, powerful build.
Maria-whose face and figure recalled
her mother--was tall, graceful, pretty
rather than handsome, with bright,
black eyes, brown hair and n complexion
lightly tinted by the viyacity of her
Corsican blood. Serious 10y reason of
the duties she had fulfilled from her
childhood, having in her attitude and
movements the serenity Il reflective
nature gives everything about her
showed an energy that would never fail,
! no matter in what circumstances she
! might be placed. MANY times she had
been sought III marriage by the young
fishermen of the country, but in vain.
Did not all her life belong to her father
and the child who was so dear to him?
That boy Luigi was already an expe-
rienced sailor hard working. brave and
resolute. Bareheaded in wind and rain
he accompanied Andrea III his fishing
and plotting. Later on he promised to
be vigorous man. we'll trained and well
built, more than bold, even audacious.
ready for anything and careless of dam
ger. He loved his father. He adored
his sister
Count Sandorf had been keenly exam.
lining these three, united in such touch
ing affection That he was among
people he could trust he felt sure.
When the meal was finished Andrea
rose and approaching Sandorf said
&" Go and sleep, gentlemen. No one
knows you are here. Tomorrow We can
talk"
No Andrea Ferrato, no :" said San
dorf Our hunger is now appeased
We have recovered our strength Let
us leave the house this instant, where
our presence is SO dangerous 10 YOU and
yours
Yes let us leave" added Bathory.
And may heaven reward you for what
you have done.
Go and sleep it is necessary, said
the fisherman. The beach is watched
tonight. An embargo has been put
upon all the ports on the coast You
can do nothing now"
. BE it SO, if you wish it, answered
Sandorf
Il wish it"
lone word only. When was our
escape known -
This morning, answered Andrea.
But there were four prisoners in the
donjon of Pisino You are only two
The third, they say, was set free.
Srcany ~ exclaimed Sandorf, imme-
diately checking the movement Of anger
that seized him as lie heard the hated
name.
And the fourth ?" asked Bathory.
without daring to finish the sentence.
" The fourth is still living. answered
Ferrato His execution has been put
of.
Living" exclaimed Bathory.
Yes, answered Sandorf, ironically
"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 at 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 g.. /
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
But already Andrea had left the house
with Luigi. lie wished to assure him.
self that no one was prowling round the
nelghborhood neither on the beach nor
beyond the brook. The fugtives then
could sleep in peace till the morning.
The night passed without adventure.
The fisherman had frequently been out.
Tie 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
some detailing the latest news,
some repeating the rumors in vague
erms which meant nothing in partic-
liar. There was nothing to show that
Sandorf and his companion had been
een in the neighborhood, nor even that
here was any suspicion oftheir presence
n the province. About ten o'clock,
when the sergeant and his men entered
Rovigno after their night expedition, a
umor spread that two strangers had
,een seen twenty-four hours before on
he Leme Canal. The district from
here to the sea had been searched for
hem in vain There was not vestige
# their visit. Had they then reached
he coast, possessed themselves of
'oat and gone 10 some other part of
stria, or had they crossed the Austrian
rontier? IL would seem So
GOOD, said one of the men. There
re five thousand forins saved to the
reasury."
Money that might be better spent
han in paying rascally informers :"
"And they have managed to escape9"
10 BE CONTINUED
. .