New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-04
THE HOUSE OF A TRAITOR.


cut by deep ravincs, sou find yourself on the
edge of an extensive maquls The maquls Is the
country of the Corsican shepherds ana OF those
who are ut enmty with justice You must know
that the Corsican laborer, in order TO spare HIM
self the trouble of manurng his fields, sets fire 10
a certain extent of wooded land So much the
worse II the flames spread further than is ne cs airy,
but then he is sure TO have a fnc harvest; whcn
he sows his seed in this soil. fertilizcd by the
ashes of the trees it once bore. The grain reaped
and carried away for they leave the straw which
it would be troublesome TO gathcr the old roots,
which have remained in the earth, unconsumcd
by the flames. shoot forth in the following spring
very, thick branches. which in few years attain
the height of seven eight feet. 1t is tbs KIND
Of heavy underbrush that goes by the name OF
trees and shrubs. mixed and confobnded as the
good God pleases man can only open passage sag
, axe 10 and bnsav 0 that the mountain
sheep themselves cannot get through i,
If you have killed man, fly to the maquis OF
Porte vcochio and you will lie there in safety pro-
yided with a good gun, powder and ball not
forget brown cowed cloak. which VIII serve as
both mattress and covering. The shepherds VIII
give you milk and cheese and chestnuts, ana you
will have nothing to fear from Justice, or tne re-
lations Of the defunct except when you Will be
obliged to 60 to the town to renew your am
Matco Falcone, when l was in Corsica; hyet
about half league from this maquis. ne was
quite rich for that country, living hooly III
Corsican phrase that is TO say. without WORKING
HIMSELF. from the produce of his fiockS when the
shepherds. kind of nomadic race, pastured mere
and there in the mountains When l saw nun,
about two years after the events am about to
relate, he appeared about fifty years old, at the
most. Imagine small, but robust man, with
crisp, curly hair, black jet, an aqulllne nose,
thin lips large bright eyes, and skin of deep
tan color. His skill IN shooting passed Tor some
thing extraordinary even IN ms GOun Wnteo
would never shoot at a mouf1on with gun Loaded
with buclSshot. but at hundred and twenty PAGES
he would kill il by bal in the head or Sh nubt
in the day time-and they related the Following
evidence Of his skill which might appear IN
credible to one who has not travelled IN Corsica.
At eighty PAGES distant, lighted candle was
placed behind a transparent paper, as large as a
plate He took aim. then the candle was eX-
inguished, and at the end OF moments tine In
the most utter darkness, he shot and pierced the
uapcr three times out OF four! Endowed wlth
such transcendent merit. Falcone had attained a
great reputation lie was SAID to be as goOd q
friend as he was dangerous enemy, and besides
being neighborly and charitable he lived IN peace
with all the world in the district OF Porte Vcccnio
But it was also told of him. when at Corte,
where he had married his wife. he had nd himself
in vigorous manner of rival. who was as
dreaded in war as in love-at least, certain shot
which much surprised this rival as he was shaw
ing before o little mirror hung TO his window, was
attributed TO Mateo The affair having died out,
Mateo married His wife had brought him at
first three daughters to his great rage and finally
O son whom he named Fortunate He was the
hope. of the family. the heir TO his name The
girls were all well married: their father could
reckon. when needed, upon the daggers and car
bnes of his son-in-law. The boy was only ten
years old. but of promising character.
One fine day in autumn, Mateo went early with
his wife to visit one of his focks in clearing in
the rnaouis The little Fortunate desired to go
wtuh ahm,Tbut the clearing was too tar on, 'and,
besides. some one must remain 10 gudro the mouse
so the father refused.
He had been gone some hours, and little Fortu-
nato lying quietly in the sun, gazing at the
blue mountains and thinking how he was gong to
dine next Sunday in the town wi it'll his uncle, when
his meditations suddenly interrupted by a
gun-shot lie jumped up and turned toward the
side of the plain whence proceeded THIS noise
Several shots followed at Irregular intervals APP
preaching and nearer, TIL suddenly, IN the
path which led from the plain TO Mates house,
appeared man wearing long beard ana a
was covered with rags. and dragged himself pain
fully along, leaning on his gum lie had Just
been shot in the thigh
This man was an outlaw, who, having gone
during the night to buy powder in the town, had
on his way fell into an ambuscade of Corslcan
police. After vigorous defence, he had sue,
ceeded in making good his retreat, hotly pursued
and firing from rock to rock But he was not
far in advance of the soldiers and his wound made
it impossible for him to reach the maquis before
being caught
He approached Fortunate and said to him /" You
are thr son of Mateo Falcone?"
"Ies' said the boy
1 am Giannetto Sanpero. Tie soldiers are
after me- HIDE me, for can go no further
And what will my father say if l hide you
without his permission
He will say you have done WELL
Hide me qulclSlyl they are comingl"
" Wait until my father comes back.
Wait Curses on you! Ihey VII be here
In five minutes. Come! hide me- or will kill
you
Fortunate replied with the greatest GOODNESS
"Your gun is not loaded, and there arc no more
cartridges in your belt.
Il have my stilettO--"
q But can you run fast as / camp and the
boy darted off, and placed himself out of the BAN
dts reach.
I'll conf xyQn
let be arrested before the door of your house 7?
The child appeared moved with compassion.
What will you give me if hide your he
The outlaw fumblcd in a lcathern pocket which
hung from his belt, and drew from it five-franc
piece. which he had doubtless saved for the pur-
chase OF powder. Fortunate smiled at the sight
OF the money, and, Selling it, said to Glannetto:
Fear nothing / will hide you well"
Then he made a great hole in a heap of straw,
or hay near the house. Giannnctto crawled in, and
the child covered him up 50 as TO leave him
little air TO breathe, without it being possible to
suspect, at q casual glance, that this heap of hay
could hide man. Moreover, with cunning
ingenuity worthy Of a savage, he caught a cat
and her kittens, and placed them on top Of the
straw, as il it had not been moved for some time.
Finally. noticing traces of blood on the path, he
carefully covered them with dust, and then
calmly lay down again in the sun.
A few moments after, six men in brown uni
an adjutant, were before Mateo's door. The adj
iutant was q distant relative Of Falcone lie
was called Tcodoro GAMBIA, active man, much
feared by the outlaws, Of whom he had already
captured several.
How do you do, little cousin ?' said he
smiling to Fortunate. How you have grown !
Have you seen man pass here, lately ?"
oh. / not big you, my cousin
said the child, with an air of simplicity;
THAT will come by-and-bye. But have you
not seen a man pass here? Tell me-"
Have l seen man pass %
Yes; a man with pointed cap Of black vel
vet. and vest embroidered with rcd and yellow"
A man with black velvet pointed cap and
q vest embroidered IN red . ana yellow :?
:. This morning NJ lc Cure rode by our door on
his horse, Pcro lie asked me how papa was,
and told him"
Hal little villain; you are playing the rogue.
Tell me, quickly, which way GiannettO went, for
It is he am after, and am certain he took this