The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-09-30

man. Moreover, with cunning ingenuity
worthy of a savage, he caught cat and
her kittens, and placed them on top of the
straw, as if it had not been moved for some
time. Finally, noticing traces Of blood on
the path, he carefully covered him with
dust, and then calmly lay down again in
the sun.
A few moments after, six men in brown
uniforms, with yellow collars, and COM
manded by an adjutant, were before Mateo's
door The adjutant was distant relative
Of Falcone He was called Theodore
Gambia, an 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. Chow you have
grown Have you seen a man pass here
lately?"
ooh! am not as big as you, my cousin,
said the child with an air of simplicity.
THAT will come by-and-by. But have
you not seen a man pass here? Tell me-"
"HaVe seen man pass?"
"Yes; a man with a pointed cap of
black velvet, and vest embroidered with
red and Yellow"
"a man with black velvet pointed
cap, and vest embroidered in red and
Yellow"
"Yes, yes answer quickly, and don't
repeat my questions"
"This morning NJ lie Cure rode by our
door on his horse, Piero. He asked me
how papa was, and | told him"
"Ha little villain; you are playing the
rogue. Tell me, quickly, which way Clan
netto went, for it is he am after, and
am certain he took this path"
"Who knows?"
"Who knows! p roared the adjutant.
II know that you have seen him y
"Can one see all the passers-by when
one Is dSleep!
"You were not asleep, good for nothing
little wretchi the gup-shots must have
wakened you
'You think, then, my cousin, that your
guns make great noise? My fathers
carbine makes much louder one"
MAY the devil confound you 1 am
very sure you have seen Giannetto. Per-
haps you have even hidden him. Com
rades, go into the house and see if our
man is not there. He was dragging along
on one foot, and he knows too much, the
rogue, to try and reach the maquis while
limping in that manner. Besides, the
marks of blood stop here, :"
"And what will papa say, said Fortuna
to, "wlreu he knows people have entered
his house when he was absent?"
"Rascal !" said the adjutant, seizing him
by the ear, 'do you know that l can make
you sing another tune2 After l have
given you twenty blows with the fiat of a
sword, you will speak,
"My father is Mateo Falcone," said
Fortunate with emphasis.
do you know, you little scoundrel, that
| can take you away to Corto, or Bastia;
that can put you in dungeon on straw,
with chains on your ankles, and I will
have you guillotiped, if you do not tell me
where Giannetto Sanpiero is?"
The boy burst out laughing at this abused
threat, and repeated, "My father is Mateo
Falcone"
"Adjutant,' said one of the soldiers
in low tone, "beware of quarreling with
Mateo."
GAMBIA was evidently embarrassed. He
talked in low voice with his men, who
had already searched the house. 1t was
not lengthy operation, for the cabin of
Corsican contains but a single square room.
The furniture consists of a table, some
benches, chest or two, and hunting and |
cooking utensils. Meanwhile, the little
boy played with the kittens, and seemed to
take malicious joy in the evident confusion
Of his cousin and the soldiers
One Of the latter approached the heap
of straw, and he saw the cat, and careless
ly thrust his bayonet into the straw, shrng-
ging his shoulders, as if he felt the pre-
caution was ridiculous. Nothing stirred,
and the childs face betrayed not the
slightest emotion. Their adjutant and his
troop were in despair. Already they look
ed seriously at the plain as if disposed to
return whence they came, when their chief,
convinced that threats produced no i'm
preston on Falcone's son, resolved to make
last effort, and try the effect of caresses
and bribery.
'Liltle cousin, said he, ''you seem a
very wide-awake fellow; you'll make your
mark; but you are playing an ugly game
with me, and if | was not afraid of giving
pain to my cousin Mateo, may the devil
catch me but would carry you off with
me"
'Bah !" said the child.
But when my cousin Mateo returns, |
shall relate the whole affair to him. and he
viii whip you till the blood comes for
having lied to me-
Really
'.You will see-but hold-you are fine
boy, and I will give you something
"And |, my cousin, will give yon piece
of advice, which is, if you wait much longer,
Giannetto will be in the maquis, and then