320 PLIK AND PLOK. 



officer, ' his ship is on the point of being smashed on the rocks. God is just. 

 He is standing out to sea, but perish he must.' " 



But the Gitano does not perish, but pursues his triumphant career, 

 and, a little farther on, we find him frightening the crews of two 

 revenue cutters out of their wits, by the sudden display of his super- 

 natural powers, for supernatural they must be, it* we are to take the 

 text at the letter. Those who take delight in the spirit-stirring 

 sketches of such writers as Scott, Cooper, and Basil Hall, have only 

 to peruse the following passage, to be convinced how immeasurably 

 M. Luc transcends these vaunted writers in truth of colouring, and 

 vigour of imagination. 



' The whole crew of the cutter, remained staring in stupid astonishment 

 on the deck. The sea was calm, and the night was pitchy dark. All was 

 black around- Just then, an immense furnace of red and glaring light sud- 

 denly burst forth, The sea reflecting this flaming brilliancy, rolled its waves 

 of fire : the atmosphere became illuminated, and the summits of the rocks of 

 de la Torre were tinged with a purple light, as if a mighty conflagration were 

 raging along the shore. This stream of light was furrowed, at intervals, by 

 long flashes of flame, which shot forth in a thousand columns, and fell again 

 in showers of gold, of azure, and of light. They formed so many myriads of 

 burning meteors that flashed, and sparkled, and scattered around them streams 

 of dazzling light. And, lo! in the midst of this lake of fire, appeared the 

 Gitano's vessel; There was the Gitano himself, arrayed in black, with his 

 black cap and white plume. He was mounted on his little horse, whose 

 housings were of rich purple, and whose mane platted with golden threads, 

 and weighted with precious stones, fell upon his neck. Close by the con- 

 demned, and leaning upon his horse's neck, stood Tasillo, also arrayed in 

 black, and holding in his hand a long carbine, while Bentick and his negroes, 

 ranged in two lines, stood in silence at the guns. A more imposing spec- 

 tacle could not well be devised : it had all the appearance of satanic appa- 

 rition for the silent, stiriess crew the dark vessel with all her sails closely 

 furled, seemed to rise from the bottom of the abyss, amid waves of light and 

 flashes of flame. The calm figure of the Gitano, whose look wore a super- 

 human expression, all was well qualified to terrify Mazareo and his band, 

 who regarded this pyrotechnic contrivance, as nothing else than the triumph 

 of Satan. The voice of the Gitano thundered, and the whole crew of the 

 cutter, who were on their knees, and as it were, fascinated by this strange 

 sight, fell flat, with their faces against the deck." 



The Gitano then proceeds to scold away in Ercle's vein, as if he 

 was addressing a refractory negro, on his own deck, and after 

 sending them a broadside, he retires, highly satified with himself. 

 But his career is fast drawing to its close. His passion for the 

 beautiful monsa of the bull-fight, had taken possession of his soul ; 

 while the noble bearing and flattering attentions of the Gitano, had 

 produced a corresponding effect on the heart of the fair Ronta. 

 With all a lovers ardour, he climbs the walls of her convent, but 

 his entrance is observed, and he is surrounded and taken prisoner 

 by the soldiers. Trial and condemnation quickly follow, and after 

 being exposed for three days, in the burning chap 3! in the square 

 of St. Juan, he is formally executed, to the great c^tisfaction and 

 edification of the assembled thousands of spectators, M. Luc has 

 exhausted the resources of his art, in giving a picturesque effect to 



