148 THE NORTHEIiN MOUNTAINS. 



the infection, a man now joined her in the mad dance. Couple 

 alter couple entered the arena, and a true sorcerers' sabhath 

 besran ; while li^ht after liiiht was extinguished, till at last 

 but one remained ; by whose dim ray I could just perceive 

 the faint outlines of the remaining persons. 



" At this moment, from some cause or other, Jean Marie 

 burst into a loud laugh. 



" Instantly the drum stopped ; and I distinctly saw Martin 

 raise his right hand, and, as it appeared to me, seize Jean 

 Marie's naked foot between his linger and thumb. 



" As he did so, Jean Marie, with a terrible scream, whicli 

 I shall never forget, fell to the ground in strong convulsions. 



"We succeeded in getting him outside. But he never 

 spoke again ; and died two hours afterwards, his body 

 having swollen up like that of a drowned man. 



'' In those days there were no inquests ; and but little 

 interest was created by the affair, Martin himself soon 

 after died." 



But enough of these abominations, of which I am forced 

 to omit the worst. 



That day to go- on with my own story I left the rest of 

 the party to go down to the court-house, while I stayed at 

 the camp, sorry to lose so curious a scene, but too tired to 

 face a crowded tropic court, and an atmosphere of perspira- 

 tion and perjury. 



