THE PIRATES OF SEGXA. 335 



" They come not ! " she exclaimed after a pau?e, 

 during which the fire began to burn low for lack of fuel, 

 and the noise of the musketry diminished and finally 

 ceased. " Uzcoques ! " she cried in a louder voice, 

 and with inspiration in her thrilling tones "take 

 heed and warning, for your hour is come. Your 

 crags and caverns, your rocky shores and howling 

 storms, refuse you further service ! " 



She paused, and at that moment was heard the 

 rush of a rapidly approaching boat 



" Speak not, ye messengers of evil ! " exclaimed 

 Strasolda in piercing accents. " Utter not a word. 

 You have left Dansowich in the hands of the 

 Venetians." 



There was no reply to her half-frantic exclamation, 

 and the deep silence was only broken by the footsteps 

 of the new-comers, as with dejected looks they joined 

 their companions. Just then some damp branches 

 that had lain smouldering and smoking on the fire, 

 burned brightly up, and by their light Ibrahim and 

 Hassan beheld the maiden kneeling in the midst of 

 the pirates, her tearful face covered by her fair and 

 slender fingers. The next moment she raised her 

 head and gazed into the cavern. 



As she did so, the sorrowful expression of her 

 features changed, and her countenance was lighted 

 up with a look of rapture, while a loud cry burst 

 from her lips. Through the opening in the smoke, 

 the prisoners became visible to her as they lay motion- 



