THE RED TAKTANE. 639 



man thoroughly acquainted with this coast ? Alas ! alas ! why does 

 not a Christian present himself?" 



" Listen, father," said the sailor, who had suffered the sanguine 

 evacuation of Master Flores, " is it not a good action to rid the 

 world of an unbeliever ?" 



" Doubtless, my son, it will render you worthy of heaven." 



" Thanks, reverend father," returned the seaman, advancing to- 

 wards the Gitano, who had dismounted from his horse, and was 

 standing on the beach leaning against the saddle, as usual lost in 

 thought ; a sudden start of the animal caused his master to turn 

 half round, in time to behold the knife of the mariner raised with 

 deadly purpose in the air behind him ; the Rover appeared almost in- 

 stinctively to spring forwards, so swift was the movement of self- 

 preservation ; then drawing one of his long pistols from his belt, in 

 another instant the assassin was stretched lifeless on the sands. 



The priest and his companions rushed towards their fallen com- 

 rade, but ere they had half reached the fatal spot, the whole party were 

 startled by the fisherman, Pablo, shouting from the top of the cliff 

 " Fly by the holy Virgin, fly ; we are betrayed, and the leather 

 jackets are close at hand." 



The holy man, although dreadfully agitated, enjoined his followers 

 at once to seize the murderer of their comrade ; but mounted on his 

 well-tried Iskear, and guessing their intentions, he had, immediately 

 after shooting the sailor, dashed into the sea, and was already far ad- 

 vanced towards his vessel ; and notwithstanding their imprecations 

 and loud threats that they would use their carbines unless he stopped, 

 he still held on, until two or three balls whizzed passed him, when 

 sliding off his horse, he continued to swim, keeping the animal be- 

 tween himself and the shore, till Iskear having received a fatal bullet, 

 he was compelled to proceed alone ; and so vigorously could he swim, 

 that, in another minute or two, he was once more in safety on the deck 

 of his Tartane. 



The blacks who were toiling in unloading the vessel, were ordered 

 to desist and prepare her for sea, while the Rover calmly paced the 

 deck, carefully watching the proceedings of his treacherous con- 

 federates. 



In the meanwhile the bales and packages of various articles already 

 landed were hastily placed upon the horses ; and the smugglers had 

 commenced their retreat, when the reports and flashes of several 

 muskets from the summit of the rocky cliff, shewed them their only 

 means of retiring was already cut off. 



" Heaven help us !" exclaimed the monk, <e none can save us but 

 the Gitano, who knows the secret passage through these rocks, but 

 it is now too late fools that ye were to meddle with him !" 



Indeed their situation was most desperate ; surrounded partly by 

 the sea, which was rising rapidly, and by perpendicular rocks im- 

 possible for any human being to climb, while the only path of egress 

 was occupied by the douanniers, who were now plainly to be seen in 

 considerable force, gradually descending by the narrow way. 



The monk turned towards the Tartane, and raising his clasped 



