THE PIRATES OF SEGXA. 323 



ently, as he saw the pirates rummaging more eagerly 

 than ever, and now and then concealing something of 

 value under their cloaks, " could not the greedy 

 knaves wait till they got home before they shared 

 the plunder 1 May their fathers' souls burn ! " 



" What saith the sage Oghuz ] " quoth old Hassan 

 slowly, " ' As people grow rich their maw widens.' " 



" Silence, unbelieving hound ! " exclaimed a harsh 

 voice behind him, and a thump between the shoul- 

 ders warned the old Turk to keep his proverbs for a 

 more fitting season. The pirate was about to repeat 

 the blow, when suddenly his hand fell, and the curses 

 died away upon his lips. 



The clouds that had hitherto veiled the setting sun 

 had suddenly broken, and a broad stream of golden 

 light poured down the ravine, flashing upon the roofs 

 and gables of the town, and making the castle appear 

 like a huge and magnificent lantern. The ravine 

 was lighted up as though by enchantment, and the 

 unexpected illumination caused an alarm among the 

 group of pirates, not unlike that of an owl into whose 

 gloomy roosting-place a torch is suddenly intruded. 

 Terror was depicted upon their countenances as they 

 gazed up at the castle. For a moment all was still 

 and hushed as the grave, and the Uzcoques scarcely 

 seemed to breathe as they drew their greedy hands in 

 silent haste out of the sacks ; then, suddenly recover- 

 ing from their stupefaction, they snatched up their 

 muskets and crowded into a dark cavern in the rock, 



