706 THE RED TA11TANE. 



arrangement being that Fasillo should remain on board the Tartane, 

 taking care that every thing was ready to put to sea, while the Gitano 

 proceeded alone to visit his mistress. 



###*### 



Seven days subsequent to the events just described the Tartane 

 arrived in the port of Tangiers, commanded by Fasillo, alone, and 

 almost heart-broken ; for the Gitano the unfortunate Gitano had 

 ceased to exist. Discovered in the garden of the convent, an alarm 

 was immediately given. The Rover attempted to escape as he had 

 entered, over the high wall ; but almost at the moment when he had 

 gained the summit, the lines were cut on the outside, and the Rover 

 fell senseless to the earth. It is needless to add, he was made pri- 

 soner, and, after a brief trial, was ignominiously executed in the 

 principal square of Cadiz, amidst the yells and execrations of the 

 populace. 



Dire were Fasillo's resolutions of vengeance on learning the fatal 

 news : his first step to their execution was to turn the vessel's head 

 towards Tangiers, which he reached in safety after a short voyage. 



No sooner did he tread upon the soil of Africa than he directed 

 his steps towards one of those dirty narrow streets, having on either 

 side lofty houses without windows, which branch from the Ma-Moa- 

 B'd'hal. This is indeed a miserable street; for, in the first place, a 

 burning sun almost calcines the earth ; and, secondly, it is the abode 

 of the Jews and Armenians, who find means of displaying their 

 natural propensities even in the midst of the colony of pirates that 

 inhabited this part of the African coast. 



It was not without some personal danger that the street of the Jews 

 could be visited, for often would the Arabs of the Bey amuse them- 

 selves by lying in ambush at each extremity, armed with their long 

 guns, beautifully inlaid with silver and mother-of-pearl, to watch the 

 appearance of its unbelieving inhabitants. As soon as an unhappy 

 Jew put his head out of his door, four or five shots informed him that 

 the sons of the desert had been drinking of the good c'hirpa, which 

 the old Moor who lived in the fish-market sold so cheaply, and that 

 they were inclined for a little diversion. 



Before one of these high houses Fasillo stopped, and endeavoured 

 vainly for several minutes to attract the attention of the inmates ; at 

 length the long and cadaverous visage of a very old man, surmounted 

 with a sort of yellow skull-cap, appeared at the narrow grated wicket 

 or entrance, and harshly demanded the purport of the stranger's 

 business. 



" You are tardy in attending to your door, my father," said Fasillo, 

 " though you well know that it rains balls for Christians in this ac- 

 cursed street." 



" Is this then your only business ? Adieu, young man !" returned 

 the jew. 



' Stay yet a moment, a word ere you close the wicket," continued 

 Fasillo ; " since you refuse me entrance, I must have recourse to my 

 best friend," and he drew forth, and exhibited to the astonished 

 Israelite, the talisman of the Gitano. 



"What do I see? such a treasure in thy hands who but 

 enter, my son, for a ball would pass easily through such a garment 



