Volume I Part 24 (1/2)

A shi+ver ran through the wretch, but the dark eyes remained closed

”Benedetto,” continued Monte-Cristo, sternly, ”you have killed your mother Shame upon you, parricide”

This time Benedetto opened his eyes in terror, and in a faint voice murmured:

”My aze met that of Bertuccio, in which he read a silent question

”Are you still going to be charitable?” asked Bertuccio's eye ”The wretch has murdered the mother who bore hi was heard The bark of the Ice Bird appeared on the beach to fetch the passengers

”Jacopo,” exclaimed Monte-Cristo aloud, ”listen!”

Jacopo stood up in the bark, and looked closely at the count, who called out some words in Maltese dialect to him

Immediately a sailor jumped from the bark into the sea and swam toward the Ice Bird, while Jacopo with the two other sailors jurotto,” ordered the count

Jacopo and Ali did as they were told, and while the sailors carried the provisions to the bark, the count whispered a feords to the Nubian

Ali approached the woundedarms, he carried him to the bark and placed him on the floor of the same The count then took the box and threw it near Benedetto; he then took Haydee's ared into the water up to his waist and laid hold of the bark

”Benedetto,” cried the count aloud, ”you have blasphemed God You have trodden under foot all huuilt and punishment with each other! Ali, do your duty”

Ali, with a powerful movement, pushed the bark froht vessel, and in a short while it disappeared from the horizon

”Oh, count,” staiven hihty God wishes hiht to punish and forgive,” replied the count, sole the shore, in obedience to the coht, and, with Haydee and the seaot on board, and solemnly said:

”Bertuccio and Ali, do your duty!”

Haydee looked wonderingly at her husband; he took her head in his hands and earnestly said:

”My darling, I bury the past at this hour--the grottoes of Monte-Cristo are no more”

A column of fire rose from the island--a loud report was heard, and the treasure chamber of the Cardinal Spada was annihilated

Ali and Bertuccio hurried to the yacht, and the Ice Bird fleith all sails toward the open sea

”Oh, darling,” whispered Haydee, blushi+ng deeply, ”you have been merciful, and I thank you doubly for it What you do for your fellow-men God will return to your child Yes, I speak the truth God has given reat happiness to become a mother Kiss me, my beloved”

CHAPTER XXI

WITH THE PANDURS