THE STAR. 589 



1 saw him ; he wore a large black mantle ; I thought I should have 

 died of suffocation from the smell of sulphur that poured through the 

 hole." This last fact was convincing proof of Daniel's assertion ; 

 the heated and deceived minds of the party were still more inflamed 

 against Perez ; in whom they now saw the cause of all their 

 miseries. 



***** 



A still dark night had succeeded to the fiery and threatening gleams 

 of the setting sun. These signs betoken to the experienced mariner 

 a coming storm, of which the light and fitful gusts that ever and 

 anon chased each other through the sky, might be considered the 

 certain forerunners. The storm had begun to rage with violence 

 as the six Bretons had concluded their denunciations against Perez. 

 The timbers creaked beneath the growing tempest ; the rage of the 

 mariners acquired new force in the prospect of a tempest adding 

 still more to their woes. " Overboard with the Spaniard," exclaimed 

 Daniel; "we are lost unless we rid the ship of this devil's hind." 

 " Overboard with him," responded his companions. In two minutes 

 thereafter, the cabin door was burst open, and Perez dragged from 

 within. Daniel seized the duchess by the throat, and forced his 

 rosary around her neck; in the mean time the others had pinioned 

 Perez ; they were then tied back to back, rolled in a large tarpaul- 

 ing, enclosing two heavy shots ; the foremost part of the main-deck 

 was opened ; the mariners fell on their knees, took off their hats to 

 offer up their prayers to the Virgin for delivering them from the 

 power of sorcery ; made the sign of the cross upon their breasts, 

 and with a loud shout forced the fearful bundle into the sea ; it dis- 

 appeared in the midst of the boiling element ; thus terminated the 

 wrongs of the Duchess of Almeda and her faithful esquire. 



THE STAR. 



CLEAR twinkling star! thou midnight sentinel ! 



Thou trembling beauty, floating 'mid the hush 



Of heaven's azure vault ; in veiled ambush 

 'Tis thine enchanted lot unseen to dwell, 

 Wrapped in the slumbers of thy silent spell, 



While the bright sunbeams to the wild earth rush ; 



Yet, now, thou wak'st to gaze upon the blush 

 Of folding flowers, and light the dew-dropp'd dell ; 



Fond mortals vowing by thy fairy ray, 

 Whisper love tales 'neath the weeping willow ; 



'Tis by thy lamp when murk storms hold their sway, 

 And hoarse and angry winds sweep o'er the billow, 



The toss'd bark stems her solitary way, 

 Spirit watcher of the sailors' pillow ! U. 



