642 



THE RED TARTANS. 



cried he, joyously replacing his glass on the table with so much force 

 that it broke. 



" France, Fasillo," said the Rover, " by my word it is a noble 

 country." 



" The land of hospitality," continued Fasillo, drinking a second 

 bumper of champaign. 



The Gitano looked at him, and leaning back on the cushions of 

 the divan, burst into a hearty laugh. 



" And of liberty/' resumed Fasillo. 



Here the Gitano's shouts of laughter were so violent as to echo 

 above the noise of the tempest that raged without, to the great con- 

 fusion of poor Fasillo, M'ho regarded him with a displeased and 

 astonished look. The Gitano perceived it. 



" Pardon me, Fasillo pardon me, my friend, but thy naive admi- 

 ration of France, that smiling country as they call it, brought to my 

 recollection many a strange thought." After a moment's silence the 

 Gitano passed his hand rapidly across his brow as if to chase away 

 some painful remembrance, then smiling said, 



" Now that our misfortune will no longer permit us to continue 

 our contraband trading, whither shaH we go, Fasillo?" 



" To Italy, commandant ! for there, as here, the sun is hot, the sky 

 blue, the trees green, and the women brunettes, singing to the guitar, 

 and kneeling before the Madonna ! Besides, more than one creek 

 along the coast of Sicily will afford good and safe anchorage to the 

 Tartane ; let us then turn her head towards Italy." 



" To Italy ? No ! for there murderers are punished with death ; 

 do you understand, Fasillo ?" 



" Great God, you a murderer ?" cried the horror-stricken youth. 



" Listen Fasillo : I was fourteen years of age, when one day my 

 sister Sed'lha and myself were supporting my father, who walked 

 with difficulty, when he was killed upon the spot by a musket-ball 

 it was the deed of a Christian, who detested our faith. I had no 

 weapon but my stiletto, but I pursued and overtook the assassin ; he 

 was strong and vigorous, but my father's blood had stained my 

 hands, and I stabbed him with delight. It was thus I left Italy with 

 my poor little Sed'lha ; what would'st thou have done, Fasillo ?" 



" I should have avenged my father," said the youth, after a mo- 

 ment of expressive silence ; " but surely, commandant, the law would 

 have pronounced you justified in revenging your father's murder ?" 



" The Christians justify an infidel? an accursed Ghebie ?' r 



" Then," said the young man sighing, " let us cross the sea, and 

 visit Egypt. It is said Mahommed and Ismael Beys, receive stran- 

 gers favourably ; shall we go to Alexandria ?" 



" Alexandria is a fine city, it was there I disembarked after flying 

 from Italy. A benevolent emir received myself and sister, and sent 

 me to college, for there were as many colleges in Alexandria as in all 

 Spain, Fasillo. There I learnt the French and Spanish languages, 

 algebra and naval tactics ; in short, they made a sailor of me." 



" And by my faith, they made a brave one," said Fasillo. 



" At the expiration of six years I commanded a galliot, which fell 

 in with a fire-ship of Canaris; compelled to put back into port to 



