The National tribune., 1898-05-19

| his express directions, sent back the
simple reply, "to remain where he was
| until the Emperor's pleasure with regard
to him was known"
This cold answer threw Murat into a
| tempest of passion. He rallied against his
brother in-law, loading him with accusa-
tons, for whom, ne said, he had lost ms
| throne and his kingdom. Wishing, how
ever, to be nearer Paris, he started for
| Lyons, but while changing horses at
| Aubagne, near MarseiIles, he was told
| of the disastrous battle of Waterloo.
Fastening back to Toulon, he lay con-
the result of this last overthrow of Napo-
leon. When he was informed Of his alb
| dication, he scarcely knew what to do. At
| first he wished to get to Paris, to treat
| personally with the allied sovereigns for
his safety. Being unable to accomplish
his purpose, he thought OF flying to Eng
| land, but hesitating to do this also, with
out promise of protection from that Gov
| eminent, he finally, through Fouche, OBJ.
tanned permission of the Emperor OF
Austria to settle in his dominions.
AWAITING NAPOLEoN'S OVERTHROW.
But white he was preparing to set out.
he was told that q band of men were on
the way to seize him, in order to get the
10000 francs that the Bourbons had offered
for his head, and fled with a single servant
to a desolate place on the seashore near
Toulon. Thither his friends from the city
secretly visited him, bringing information
of the designs respecting him. Hesolvlng
at last to proceed to Paris by sea, he en-
gagged the Captain of vessel bound TO
Havre, to send boat at night to take him
off. But by some strange fatality, the sea-
men could not find Murat, nor he the sea-
men, though searching for each other half
the night; and the sea beginning to rise,
the boat was compelled to return to the
ship without him.
AS the morning broke over the coast, the
detected wanderer saw the vessel, with all
her sails set, standing boldly out to sea.
He gazed for awhile on the lessening masts,
and then fled TO the woods, where he wan
dered about for two days, without rest or
food At length drenched with rain, ex-
hausted and weary, he stumbled on a
miserable cabin, where he found an old
woman, who kindly gave him food and
shelter.
He gave himself out as belonging to the
garrison at TOulon, and he looked worn
and haggard enough to be the commonest
soldier. The white plume was gone, that
had fiOated over 80 many battlefieldS, ana
the dazzling costume, that had glanced
like meteor through the cloud of war,
was exchanged for the SOiled garments oil
an outcast. Not even his good steed was
left, that had borne him through so many
dangers, and as this tall and majestic form
stopped to enter the low door OF the cabin.
he felt how changeful was human fortune.
The fields OF his fame were far away-his
throne was gone, and the wife OF his
bosom ignorant of the fate of her lord.
While he sat at his humble fare, the
owner Of the cabin, soldier belonging to
the garrison of ToulOn, entered, and bade
him welcome. But there was something
about the wanderer' S face that struck him,
and at length remembering to have seen
those features on some French com, he
fell on his knees before him, and called
him King Murat. His wife followed his
example.
Murat was astonished at the discovery;
and then, overwhelmed at the evidence OF
affection these poor, unknown people
offered him, he, raised them to his bosom,
and gave them-hisg blessing. Forty thou
sand francs were no temptation to this
honest soldier and his wife.
Here he lay concealed till one night the
old woman saw lights approaching the
cabin, and Immediately suspectIng the
cause aroused Murat and Fastening him
into the garden, thrust him into hole,
and piled him oyer with vine branches;
She then returned to the house, and ar
ranged the couch from which he had eS-
CAPPED and began herself to undress for
bed, as if nothing had occurred to disturb
her ordinary household arrangements. In
a few moments q, gems d'armes entered,
and ransacked the house and garden,
passing again and again by the spot where
search, they at length went away.
But such a spirit as Murat's could not
long endure this mode of existence, and
he determined to put to sea. Having,
through his friends at Toulon, obtained
skif. he on the night OF the I'D OF August,
with only three attendants poidly pushed
his frail boat from the beach, and launched
out into the broad Mediterranean, and
steered for Corsica. When about 80 miles
from the shore they saw and ha1led q yes
sci, but she passed without notcing them:
The wind now began to rise, and AMID
the deepening gloom was heafd the moan
ing OF the sea, as it gathered itself Tor the
tempest The foam crested waves leaped
by delupinc the frail skin, that struggled
almost hopeIesSly with the peTilS that en-
vironed it. The naughty chieltain saw
dangers gathering round him that no
charge of cavalry could scatter, put ne ss1t
and looked out on the rising deep. with
the same compoSurc he so often had sat
on his gallant steed, when the artillery
was moving down everything at ms sue;
AT length the postof1ice packet vessel
for Corsica was seen advancing towards
them. Scarcely had Murat and his three
faithful followers stepped aboard OF 1t, pc
fore the frail slliff sank TO the bottom IL
would have been better Cor him had 1T sunk
sooner He landed at Corsica IN the dls-
guise of a common soldier.
The Mayor of the Commune OF Bastia,
the DOTt WfleIC ttle NcSSSl ihSboiSb; foSN'i'>
a man at his door, with a black silk bon
net over his brows, his beard neglected,
| and coarseIy clad was about TO question
| him, when he looked up; and Judge OF my
| astonishment," says the Mayor, when |
! discovered that this was Joachim, the
/ splendid King of Naples uttered cry
! and fell on my knees.
| Yes this was Murat-the plume ex-
| changed for the old silk bonnet, and the
| gold brocade for the coarse CATERS OF a
| common soldier.
| The Corsicans received him with enthu-
J siasm. and as he entered Aiaccio, the
| troops on the ramparts and the pOpulace
| greeted him with deafening cheers. But
1 this last shadow of his old glory con
! Sunmm ated his ruin. 1t brought back
| to his memory the shouts that were wont
| to rend Naples when he returned from
| the army to his kingdom, loaded with
| honors and hcralded by great deeds.
| In the enthusiasm of the moment he re-
! solved to return to Naples, and make an
other stand for his throne. At this criti-
cal period the passports OF tie Emperor OF
| Austria arrived. Murat was promised a
| safe passage into Austria, and an UNI
! moleSted residence in any city Of bohemia,
with the title Of Count, IL he, IN return
would renounce the throne OF Naples, and
live in obedience TO the laws. Disdainine
the condition he would "a few weeks before
have gladly accepted, he madly resolved
TO re-enter his kingdom.
With $50 recruits and few small vessels
he sailed for his dominions. The little