THE RED TARTANE. 



641 



Three carbines were discharged at once and with deadly effect ; 

 the blue robe of the priest was visible for an instant on the waters, 

 then horses, men, and monk were hid beneath the foaming waves, 

 which already broke over the entrance of the footpath. The Tartane 

 meanwhile was slowly making way through the breakers, and malgre 

 the evil wishes of the douanniers plentifully bestowed, and the 

 violence of the wind and waves, she ultimately shot through the 

 narrow passage known so well to her commander, and was once 



more in deep water and in safety. 



* * * ' * * * 



We must now transport the reader on board the Tartane at a 

 period immediately after the levant had comparatively ceased to 

 blow, and when her commander, having satisfied himself of her 

 safety, had quitted the deck for the luxurious accommodations pro- 

 vided below. 



It would be scarcely possible to imagine any thing more dazzling 

 than the little cabin of this vessel, in which the Rover and a single 

 guest were seated at table. A lamp in an enormous globe of crystal, 

 and suspended from the ceiling, shed a pure and brilliant light that 

 played upon rich Turkish s ilk of a blue ground, on which were 

 embroidered splendid crimson birds with gilded wings, holding in 

 their silver claws long serpents, whose scales were green and bright 

 as emeralds ; a divan covered with rich brown velvet, was tastefully 

 arranged around the cabin ; the centre was occupied by a table 

 served with admirable elegance and refinement, but instead of being 

 supported by feet, four light chains of bronze attached it to the ceiling 

 to secure it from the rolling and pitching of the vessel. Tintella of 

 Rota, Xeres, and Paccerete sparkled in costly flasks of crystal, the 

 thousand cuttings of which reflected back the light in tints bright 

 and varying as those of the rainbow. 



The purple grapes of San Lucas, the black figs of Medina, the 

 pomegranates of Seville, split by the heat of the sun, and the long 

 oranges of Altrava, were piled in elegant pyramids, in baskets of 

 filagreed gold and silver, such as are seen at Smyrna ; whilst the 

 table-cover of snowy whiteness was, after the oriental fashion, crossed 

 every way by threads of mingled silk and gold. Plain bottles of 

 brown glass, with long straight necks, and corks sealed and fixed 

 with wire -bottles, in short, that reminded one of France and La 

 Champagne, contrasted singularly with the Asiatic luxury that 

 reigned in this apartment. And it was indeed champaign, for two 

 tall slender glasses had just been filled with the glorious liquid, which 

 rose sparkling and foaming over their edges. 



"Attention, commandant, the tide rises," said the second per- 

 sonage, a mere stripling, on whose chin the down of manhood scarce 

 shewed. " Commandant, the tide ebbs, and if you do not take care, 

 it will be quite run out ;" and at one draught he quaffed a glass of 

 what he called the tide ; then continued " Ah ! how I love this 

 French wine ! As for our dark yellow Xeres and Malaga, they appear 

 to me as dull as a spiritual song sung by a duenna, whilst this rosy, 

 laughing champaign entrances me with delight ; by my soul it is as 

 if I heard my Juana trilling some light and lively air on her guitar," 



