Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-02-08
CHAPTER XII
THE RUINED FARM.

IN reality tnlS sheet OF Whtef, WnOn
serves as the mouth OF the Foiba, is
neither q lagoon nor a lake, but nm
estuary. 10 bears the name of Leme
Canal and it communicates with the
Adriatic by narrow creek between
Orsera and Rovigno ON the western side
Of the Istriau peninsula. But it was
not known before this voyage that Its
waters come from the FoibA and were
brought drought the gorge Of the Brioo
during heavy rains.
A few PAGES from the bank there was q
deserted hut and Sandorf and Blthory
after n short rest took shelter in it
There they stripped and waited while
the sun dried their clothes The fishing
vessels were leaving the Lcme Canal and
as far as they could see the place was
deserted.
Tho man who had been watching them
since they landed now got up and care
fully noted the position OF the hut.
And then he disappeared around q knoll
and made off towards tho south.
Three hours afterwards Sandorf and
his companion resumed their clotheA
They wore still damp, but it was nOces-
Hary 70 move on.
1--WE must not stay too long in this
hut" said Bathory.
do you feel yourself strong enough
20 start ?" asked Sandorf
ct am almost exhausted with hungerl"
LET us try 10 reach the coast I
There wo may perhaps procure some
thing 10 eat and something 10 take US TO
Boa. Como Stephen !"
And they loft the hut, evidently suffer-
ing more from hunger than fatigue
Sandorfs intention was 10 follow the
southern bank Of the Leme Canal until
no reached tho sea- The country was
deserted, IL Is true. but quite q number
OF streams intersected il on their way 10
The estuary. This watery network along
tbo banks il nothing more nor less than
n vast sponge, and the mud is impas-
sable, so that the fugitives had TO strike
southward obliquely. easily keeping
thoir course by the sun, which had now
risen. For two hours they kept on with
ont mooting human being. and with
out finding anything to satisfy the hun
scr that was dovouring them.
Then the country became less arid
They found q road running east and
west, which boosted n milestone that
gave no indication Rs 10 the region
Rcross which they were feeling their way
llko tho blind There we're, however,
nome hedges of mulberry trees and
farther on field Of sorghum, which
enabled them 10 allay their hunger or
rather 10 cheat the wants of their
Btomachs. The sorghum chewed and
oven eaten, and the refreshing null
berries, might perhaps he enough to
Keep them from exhaustion before they
reached the coast
But II the country was inhabited, IL n
few fields showed that tho hand of man
was employed about them, the fugitives
had to DO careful how they met the
snhabitants.
b About noon five or six foot passengers
appeared on the road AS a matter Of
caution Sandorf thought he and Bathory
had better get out of sight Fortunately
mn enclosure around an old ruined farm
lay some fifty yards to the left There,
before they had been noticed, he and his
companion took refuge in kind Of dark
cellar, where In the event of any one
stopping at the farm they ran little risk
OF discovery II they wnited till the night.
} The foot passengers were peasants
md salt marsh workers. Some we're
driving q flock of geese, doubtless 10
market ut some town OF village which
could not be very far from the canal.
Men and women wore clothed in Istrian
style. with the jewels, medals, earrings,
breast crosses aud filigree pendants
which ornament the ordinary costume OF
both sexes The salt marsh workers
were more simply dressed, as with sack
ON back and stick in hand they marched
along to the salterns in the neiRhbor-
hood, or perhaps even to the important
establishments at StGgnone or Pirano in
the west Of the province.
Some Of them stopped when they
reached the farm and rested for little
on the doorstep. They talked in loud
voice not without a certain animation,
but only Of things concerning their
trnde.
The fugitives leant against the cor
ner and listened. Perhaps these people
had already heard of the escape and
were talking about it. Perhaps they
were saying something which might re-
veal IN what part OF Istria they then
were.
Not word passed on the subject
They could only continue 10 gueSs.
III tho country people shy nothing
about our escape Il is a fair inference"
said Sandorf, that they have not vet
hoardofit"
That said Bathory, would 90 TO
prove that we ara some distance from
tho fortress Considering the rapidity
Of tho torrent which kept us under
ground for more than six hours lam not
surprised at that"
"That must bo Il. said Sandorf.
A couple Of hours passed. and then
some salt-workers as they passed the
farm without stopping were heard to
speak about the gendarmes they had met
nt tho gate Of the town.
What town. They gave il no name.
This was not very reassuring. II
gendarmes were about Il was probable
that they were securing the country in
search Of the fugitves
But" said Bathory, considering
how we escaped. they might well believe
us dead and never think Of pursuit"
"They will believe we are dead when
they find our bodies" answered San
dorf
There being no doubt that the police
were afoot and in search Of them. they
decided 10 stay till il was night Al
though they were tortured with hunger
they dared not leave their retreat; and
they were wise.
About Eve o'clock the tramp of n small
troop Of horse was heard along the road
Sandorf. who had been out to the gate
OF the enclosure hurriedly rejoined his
companion and dragged him into the
darkest corner Of the cellar. There they
hid themselves under heap Of brush
wood aud remained motionloss
Half dozen gcndarmcs headed by q
sergeant we're coming along the road
towards the east. Would they stop At