704 THE RED TARTANE. 



was the obscurity that succeeded to the dazzling brilliance of the 

 flames, that not a single object could be distinguished, nor could the 

 slightest sound be detected. 



******* 



The reader will doubtless recollect quitting the cabin of the 

 Tartane at the moment when Fasillo interpreted the grimaces of 

 Bentek to signify the sound of cannon : it is precisely at that moment 

 we resume our narrative. 



" By all the saints of heaven/' exclaimed Fasillo, " it is cannon !" 



The Gitano listened anxiously for nearly five minutes, while Bentek 

 continued his " paong ! paong !" accompanied by lively gesticulations j 

 and Fasillo buckled on the belt of his sabre, into which he slipped 

 his poniard and pistols, and the latter had already placed his foot 

 upon the first step of the companion-ladder, when the Rover sunk 

 down upon the soft cushion of his divan, exclaiming " Let us 

 drink, caro mio ; let us speak of the monja and the escalade of the 

 convent of Santa Magdalena." 



" Drink and talk at such a moment as this ?" demanded the asto- 

 nished Fasillo, letting fall the purple silk man-rope attached to the 

 ladder. 



The Gitano, ere he replied, fixed his eyes upon Bentek, and made 

 a sign, which the old negro fully understood, for in two seconds he 

 had disappeared. 



<( Yes, caro mio, let us drink at this moment. Fasillo, thou art 

 like the young and eager falcon, which knows not the peaceful note 

 of the halcyon from the war-cry of the tarak, and spreads its wings 

 and sharpens its beak to sustain an imaginary encounter." 



" How, commandant ?" 



"Listen attentively to the reports, and thou wilt hear that the 

 cannonade is not returned. If thou wert not here if thou hadst not 

 been compelled by this hellish levant to abandon the poor sister of 

 my Tartane, which now drives a mere wreck at the mercy of the 

 waves, like the deserted nest of a gull if thou wert not here, I 

 tell thee, caro mio, I should not long remain extended on this sofa 

 while danger threatened thee. So calm thy ardour, Fasillo : it is 

 assuredly some vessel that is perishing and implores succour let 

 them implore what I did for thee once, I never did, nor ever will 

 do again, for another." 



" I owe you my life a second time, commandant. Without you, 

 and but for the fortunate wave which threw me in your course, I 

 should have been engulphed with the frail boat in which I left my 

 Tartane." 



" Poor fellow ! thou nevertheless manoeuvred rarely to lead those 

 heavy guarda-costas far from the point of La Torre, whilst I, con- 

 cealed by the rocks, and having housed every mast and yard, disem- 

 barked in safety my contraband and the shaven crown." 



" By my soul, commandant, your second Tartane was as beautiful 

 as a gold-fish she could almost tack in a goblet of water. Alas ! 

 what is there now remains of her, with all her trimness and beauty, 

 but a few planks smashed upon the rocks ?" 



At this moment the cannonade became so distinct that the Gitano 

 sprung upon deck, followed by Fasillo. The night was dark and 



