Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-07-24
THE BURNING ISLAND.
By CAMILLE pEBASs.
CHAPTER !.
rIiE STORY oY A CRIME.

situated on the night bafik ot the PiNef
Amazon. higher MP than Para and sonc
leagues frvm the sea II In tho most
wearisome place In the world 10 stay In
n we may believe what travellers say.
and Don Luis vagsert, from thu time
that he was appointed lieutenant gov.
trnor, bcame one u the most melan'
sholy officers in the whole BRAZILIAN
army.
The garrison consisted of not more
than 100 soldiers Under the walls of
the citadel was q poor villag', which
gave shelter % about 100 negru. Of
both sexes. and In addition there might
h. found among them. from time 20
time. some Indians. Just emerging from
a state IL cannibalism. who came Ia dis.
po-e Of the produce of their hunting cx.
pc,litons
The governor In chief lived In Bahia.
Accurdingly Don Luis vasaert found
himself absolute master of a fort Bc-
sides the functions IL lieutenant gov
crnor he discharged tho-c ~ magis-
tratc and administered justice without
appcal
In order 20 overcome his feeling of
cnnui. Don Luis had ON his arrival Civ.
en- mp all his time to field sp"rts. but
when he had laid down In his bedroom
carpet msde up of the skins OF 20
jaguar~ which he had killed tho lieu.
tenant governor was Obliged 10 own to
himself that jaguarS. dead or alive
gave him no further amusement lie
then -ct to work 60 attack the alligAtor-.
but after time the alligator also fail.
ed To interest him Then he fancicl that
possibly snake hunting might Afford
him the diversion he ~ much wished
for. and accordingly. arming himself
with q bottle ~ sal ammoniac. be start
cd In quest of ra,tl-nake-. whip ssr.
pents and all kinds of vcnomous rcp.
tiles
IIe ended by making q magnificent
collection of them II was reported that
In his rom might tc seen q BEAUTIFUL
flower stand. which had come frum Par
H. In which about so flowers of par.
ticular sort afforded home 10 as many
living coral scrprnts
Now. a coral scrpent IL the most
charming reptile In the world OF q
bright rcd color and about ~ long ~ q
p,nholdcr. II lives In the calyx of .
flower. from which. on the slightest
pruvocation. IL darts out upon any one
who ventures 10 disturb IL. and its bite
CASES almost instantaneous death.
Il happened one day tina, Pciro Ia
cas-. q private soldier. and John. q ser.
g,ant In the same regiment, conceived
the idea IL going secretly 10 sce for
Themselves whether what was aid about
this wonderful collection was rally
true They entered this famous room by
the window and Looked about with
much curiosity for the flower stand II
was PLACED against the wall opp-iie
the door. The two soldiers approached
II. Pcdro trembling. John swinging
carclc--ly light cane which he held
in his hand II Was certainly awondcr'
ful sight which met their cycs. In al
most every flower q coral serpent lay
coilci MP and seemed Ia L. drinking In
the perfume which exhalcd fron IL.
-Four OF five humming birls were hut.
tcring round the flower stand, and every
now and then one ~ the srpcnts. wea.
ricl by the bulzing of tbs wings, made
. dart cut u the flower and sprang to
ward the bird. which. however. II never
succe,,icd In catching.
All nc one. Johns face assumed a
singular expression Choosing the mo.
mcnt when Pedro. growing q little bold
er. drrw noar,r 20 the flower stand 10
gt u better view of these wonderful
creatures, the sergeant, ~ . sOrt of prac'
teal joke. switched his cane near the
stalks ~ the plants where thc-e terrible
reptile. were sleeping. and by quick
motion ~ his hand caused u series ~
vibrations among these homes 81 sud'
den death.
Then quick n thought he saved him.
sclf by leaIing out through the window.
A hundrcd sharp hissings sounded In
P~lro's ears, who in his turn endeayor-
ed to save himself by flight. but scarcc.
ly had he reached the courtyard when
he fell. fainting. 90 the ground His
brother. who was mounting guard nc
the door of the lieutenant governor.
threw down his musket and rushcd 10
his assistance II was too late. Five or
six serIents had inflicted their bite on
the pcor soldier. He turned livid and
expired ON the spot, having scaroely had
time To tell his brother what hal hap.
pened
Alfonso Bacas. the brother ~ the dead
man. threw himself On the CORPSE, kissed
it, forehead: then returning To his post
he took up his gun and loaded IT, A ~.
purt was heard. and Sergeant John fell,
mortally wounded A few minutes later
the lieutenant governor. returning TO
the fort. learned what had taken place,
gave the order for the arrest of Alfonso
and announced that the next day acourt
martial would sit to try the murderer.
who ~ hours aftcrward. was brought
before Don Luis vagasrt and found
guilty. and ~ the lieutenant governor
felt himself that day more than usually
out Of spirits he pronounced the scn.
tence of death In an imprturbable tone
of voice. The execution was appointed
to take place the following day. Never
since the fort and village of Salem had
bscn In existence had capital sentence
is;n pronouncvi either against one of
the inhabitants or against one u the
soldiers of the garrison. ~ that u was
quite an event. and the lieutenant gov.
crnor. who no doubt had Judged Al.
fonso Dacas entirely according 10 ths
dictates Of his conscience, still was not
quite at his case
Al o o'clock ON Thursday morning
there was quite crowd ON the ram
parts Perhaps the word "crowd" may
seem an exaggeration; but. after all. ev.
erything IL relative. and m the entire
population of Salem was present ON tho
occzsini Il would bo hypcrcritical to rc-
hark that elsewhere q collection OF
hundr,sl men would scarcely be dignt.
,cl by the name II nm as-cmblage.
All the garrison was under arms. The
lieutenant governor. ON horseback, was
90 preside over the execution. and while
q picket of ~ men went to fetch tho
prisoner Don Luis vagasrt placesl him.
self at the head of his troop which was
formed In military square ON the place
of execution
The lieutenant governors watch
showed that 0 o'clock had arrived A
shuddcr rrn through all who were prcs-