St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

cessity for keeping the matter very quiet
because he intended that nobody elst
should share the credit of the capture
I assured him that would not breathe ;
word, thanked him for his kindness il
asking me to assist him, and we sepa
rated to 20 to our work and dream O.
promotion.
The next morning I set out in full
shooting costume, and took the coacf
which does the Journey from Ajaccio tc
Bastia. For those who love nature there
is no better ride in the world, but | was
too busy with my castles in the air te
notice any of the beauties of the land
scape.
At Bonifacio we stopped for dinner
When I got in the coach again, just q
little elevated by the contents of a good
sized bottle, found that l had fresh
travelling companion, who had taken d
seat next to me. He was an official at
Bastia, and I had already met him; a
man about my own age, and native of
Paris like myself. A decent sort of a
fellow.
You are probably aware that the Ad-
ministration, as represented by the Pre-
feet, etc, and the magistrature never got
on we'll together; in Corsica it is worse
than elsewhere The seat of the admin
istration is at Ajaccio. that of the magis-
trature at Bastia; we two, therefore, be-
longed to hostile parties. But when you
are long way from home and meet
some one from your native place, you for
get all else, and talk of the old coun-
try.
We were fast friends in less than no
time, and were consoling each other for
being in "exile" as he termed it. The bot
tie of wine had loosened my tongue, and
[ soon told him, in strict confidence,
that I was looking forward to going
back to France to take up some good
post as a reward for my shale in the
capture of Quastana, whom we hoped to
arrest at his cousins house one Sunday
evening. When my companion got off
the coach at Porto Vecchio, we felt as
though we had known each other for
years.
I arrived at Solenzara between four and
five o'clock. The place is populated 10
winter by workmen, fishermen and Gus
| tom officials, but in summer every one
who can shifts his quarters up in the noun
tains on account of fever. The village,
therefore, was nearly deserted when |
reached it that Sunday afternoon
| entered small inn and had some
thing to eat while waiting for Matteo.
Time went on and the fellow did not put
in an appearance; the innkeeper began
to look at me suspiciously and / felt
rather uncomfortable. At last there
came knock, and Matteo entered.
He has come to my house." he said
raising his hat. "Will you follow me
there?''
We went outside. It was very dark
and windy; we stumbled along stony
path for about three mies--a narrow
path, full of small stones and overgrown
with luxuriant vegetation. which pre-
vented us from going quickly.
"That's my house." said Matteo,
pointing among the bushes to light
which was Pickering at short distance
from us.
A minute later we were confronted by
a big dog, who barked furiously at u.s.
One would have imagined that he meant
to stop us going farther along the road.
"Here, Bruccio, Bruccio!" cried my
guide-then, leaning toward me, he said
''That's Quastana's dog. A ferocious
animal He has no equ,l for keeping
watch.' Turning to the dog again, he
called out :-"That's all right, old fell
low-do you take US for policemen?'
The enormous animal Quoted down
and came and shifted around our legs.
1t was q splendid Newfoundland dog,
with thick, white, woody coat, which
had obtained for him the name of Bruc-
clio (white cheese. He ran out in front
of US to the house-a kind of stone hut
with large hole in the roof, which did
duty for both chimney and window.
In the centre of the room stood o rough
table, around which were several Seats
made of portions of trunks of trees,
hacked into shape with chopper. A
torch stuck in a piece of wood gave q
Pickering light, around which flew a
swarm of moths and other insects.
At the table sat man who looked like
In Indian or Provincial fishermen with
q shrewd, sunburnt, clean shaven face.
He was leaning over pack of cards and
was envelored in a cloud of tobacco
smoke.
"Cousin Quastana,' said Mattco as we
went in, "this Is gentleman who is 60
ng shooting with ME In the morning.
He will sleep here tonight. SO as to be
close to the spot in good time TO-
When you have been an outlaw and {
lad to fly for your life you look with ,
suspicion upon stranger. Quastana I
o5ked me straight in the eyes, for {
scondv then, apparently satisfied, he ,
aluted ms and took no further notice of .
ne. Tw6 minutes later the cousins were 8
described in game of scoops. a
It is astonishing what a mania for card ,
,laying existed in Corsica at that time, a
nd it is probably the same now. The {
lubs and cafes were watched by the po- {
ice, for the young men ruined them I
elves at a game called bouillotte. III the
illages it was the same; the peasants 8
we're mad for game at cards, and when
hey had no money they played for their
ipes, knives, sheep-anything.
I watched the TWO men with great in
crest as they sat opposite each other 81 c
entity playing the game. They watched
ach others movements, the cards either g
aced downward upon the table or care /
ully held SO that the opponent might a
OF catch glimpse of them, and gave r
n occasional quick glance at their "hand" k
ithout losing sight of the other players "
ice. | was especially interested in p
'atching Quastana. The photograph was il
very good one, but it could not repro 8
uce the sunburnt face, the vivacity and d
gility of movement, surcrising in man 81