1828.J 347 
THE SMUGGLERS OF ALGESIRAS, 
« SHALL we weather the Point on this tack, captain ?” 
«« Why, she lies well up, doesn’t she, in spite of this heavy swell ?— 
Orsa! you there at the helm, keep her close—there now, steady’s the 
word.” 
_ And steady was the progress of the Buena Ventura as she glided by 
the southern extremity of the rock of Gibraltar, known by the name of 
Europa Point, so closely as almost to graze the sharp ledges of land 
that stand out from it to westward. The speakers were two mariners, 
on the deck of a stout felucca, bearing up against a heavy Gregale, which 
had blown in their teeth ever since they had left the African coast. They 
watched their slow advance in silence, measuring it by the gradual dis- 
appearance of particular well known objects, just rendered discernible 
by the unsteady light of a moonless sky. Presently one of the voices 
was again heard, uttering these words, but in a hushed and cautious 
tone :— 
« Shall we escape the guarda-costas, think you, captain ?” 
*?Tis hard to say.” 
_ © But had we not better lie-to for a few hours, and so get in with 
security ?” 
© Hold your babble, Diego ; have we not always escaped them ?” 
_ © No one knows how,” said the other; “ good luck’s no perpetuity. 
Old Serafin is a lynx now-a-days ; but he used, they say, to drive another 
trade. Hang those reclaimed felons! they are your true white-livered, 
straight-laced, awkward rogues, who haven’t in them one grain of 
Christian charity ;—I dread him and his myrmidons. We may land 
our cargo cleanly or not—but, at this early time o’ night, the odds are 
against us.” ; 
* Once more, Diego, I tell you there is no hazard.” 
~ © Once more, then, Captain Saavedra, I tell you frankly, I think you 
have no foundation for what you say. The tobacc ase 
' & Drown the tobacco!” cried the petulant commander ; “ drown it, 
bale by bale, rather than hear that endless tongue of thine! Go—bestir 
yourself ; we must about ship.” 
’ The mate, not being in his master’s secrets, turned on his heels, much 
discomfited and growling. In another minute the vessel was standing in 
towards Algesiras, keeping her head a little to the northward of the 
anchorage-ground. 
At the period of this conversation, Don Francisco Serafin was cobo 
- principal de rentas, or Preserver of the rights of coast, in the service of 
King Ferdinand. He was a man of some fifty years of age, pompous 
in office, active and circumspect. It was well known by what means he 
had obtained a post of such respectability, and requiring so much skill. 
Not through the regular changes and promotions, from one step in the 
police department to another ;—not by money, or the interference of 
ee, in his behalf ;—his own peculiar qualifications ‘purchased it for 
im, at a time when no other man in the kingdom was so well adapted 
to the employment. For the information of some who are strangers to 
these matters, it may be well to state that the harbour of Gibraltar is 
one of those which by charter is possessed of rights of exception from all 
_ port-dues, taxes, customs, and other ordinary levies. The merchants 
2¥ 2 
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