THE PIRATES OF SEGNA. 317 



tenderness ; and then the mist dispersed, and the 

 beauteous phantom stooped down to kiss his cheek, 

 when suddenly her blooming face darkened and 

 withered into the death -like visage of that fearful 

 stranger, and her long bright hair was converted into 

 hissing serpents. Starting with a scream of horror 

 from his troubled and exhausting slumbers, he again 

 sought refuge in his gondola, but returned, alas ! to 

 make his sketch into a picture, which the hues of 

 life made still more hideous and repulsive. After 

 several days thus occupied, he sketched in various 

 attitudes the imposing figure of the old woman, and 

 endeavoured to fit this beautiful torso with a head 

 not unworthy of it. But herein, after many attempts, 

 lie failed. His excitement, so long indulged, had 

 risen into fever. His diseased fancy controlled his 

 pencil, and blended with features of the highest 

 order of beauty so many touches of the old woman's 

 ghastly visage, that he threw down his pencil, and 

 abandoned all further efforts in despair. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE CAVERN. 



The shores of Austrian Dalmatia south of the port 

 of Fiurne are of so rugged and dangerous a nature, 

 that although broken into numerous creeks and bays, 



