The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10
Quastana, the Brigand.
From the French of AIphonse DAudes.

AlphCnse Daudet-
guide then, leaning toward me. he said:
That's Quastanas dog. A ferOciOus anil
NAL. He has no equal for keeping watch. "
Turning to the dog again, he called out:
That's all right, old fellow DO you take
US for policemen"
The enormous animal quieted down,
and came and shifted around our legs.
IL was a splendid Newfoundland dog,
with thick, white woody coat, which had
obtained for him the name of Brucc;o
white cheese). tie ran out in front OF US
to the house, kind of a stone hut, with
a large hole in the roof. which did duty
for both chimney and window.
In the center of the room stood a rough
table, around which We're several seats
made OF portions of trunks o: trees.
hacked into shape with chopper.
torch stuck in q piece oil WOOD gave
Pickering light. around which flew
swarm OF moths and other insects.
At the table sat man who looked like
an Italian or Provincial fishe man, with
a shrewd, sunburnt, clean-shaven face.
lie was leaning over a pack OF cards, and
was envelOped in a cloud OF tobacco
smoke.
Cousin Quastana," said Matteo, as We
went in, this is a gentleman who is going
shooting with me in the morning. lilo
will sleep here tonight. so as to be close to
the spot in good Ii ne tomorrow"
When YOU have been an outlaw and
had TO fly for your life. you look with sus-
plcion upon stranger. Quastana looked
me straight in the eyes for a second then,
apparently satisfied. he saIuted me and
took no further notice OF me. Two min
utes later the cousins were absorbed In
game or scOpa
1t is astonishing what a mania for card
playing existed in Corsica at that time-
and it is probably the same now. The
clubs and cafes were watched bv the
police, for the young men ruined them
selves az a game called bOul!lote. In the
villages it was the same; the peasants
were mad for a game of cards. and when
they had no money they played Tor their
pipes. knives. sheep-snything.
/ watched the two men with great IN
terest as they sat opposite each other,
silently playing the game. They watched
each others movements, the cards either
face downward upon the table or care
fully held so that the opponent might not
catch q glim Dse OF them, and gave
occasional quick glance al their hand"
without losing sight OF the other PLAYERS
face. was especially interested in watch
ing Quastana The photograph was very
good one, but il could not reproduce the
sunournt face and the vitality and agility
OF movement, surprising IN man OF his
age, and the hoarse, hollow voice peculiar
10 those who spend most OF their time IN
solitude.
Between two and three hours passed in
this way and | had some difficulty in
keeping awake in the stutly air OF the hut,
and the long stretches of silence broken
only by an occasional exclamation: 'Sev-
enleen" Eighteen From time to
time l was aroused by a heavy gust Of
wind, or a dispute between the players.
suddenly there was a savage bark from
Bruccio, like cry Of alarm. We all
sprang up, and Quastana rushed out OF
the door, returning an instant afterwards
and seizIng his gun. With an exc amation
of rage he darted out of the door again
and was gone. Alatteo and were look
ing at one another in surprise
when dozen armed men entered
and called upon us 10 surrender
and in less time than it takes to tell you
We were on the ground, bound and prison
ers. In vain | tried TO make the gend-
armes understand who | was; they would
not listen TO me. That's all right, you'll
have an opportunity Of making an eXpla-
nation when we get To Bastie"
They dragged us TO our feet and drove
Us out with the butte ends of their car
bines. HandcuIed and pushed about by
one another, we reached the bottom OF
the slope, where a prison was in waiting
for us-a vile box, without ventilation
and full of vermine-intO which we were
thrown and driven TO Bastia, escorted by
gendarmes with drawn swords. A nice
position for q government official