THE PIRATES OF SEGNA. 349 



heart thus to add to my sorrow 1 Is it not enough to 

 know those I love in captivity, to behold my people, 

 once so noble and heroic, degraded to the very refuse 

 of humanity, despised and detested of all men, having 

 their dwelling on a barren rock, and earning by crime 

 and bloodshed a precarious existence and doubtful 

 freedom? Is it not enough " 



" Hush ! " interrupted the lady in a quick sharp 

 whisper, raising her finger, and glancing towards the 

 door of the apartment. There was a noise as of 

 stealthy footsteps in the corridor. Strasolda sprang 

 from the kneeling posture which she had maintained 

 during her conversation with her mistress, and re- 

 sumed her station in the recess of a window, while 

 the counsellor's lady snatched up a rich shawl from 

 a damask - covered ottoman, and threw it over the 

 caskets spread out upon the table. Scarcely were 

 these arrangements completed, when the door was 

 partially opened, and a wild sunburnt and bearded 

 countenance showed itself at the aperture. 



" Heaven and the saints be praised ! " exclaimed 

 the lady. "They are come at last. In with you, 

 Jurissa Caiduch : there is no one but Strasolda 

 here." 



The person thus addressed was a strongly built and 

 active man, rather under the middle size, muffled in a 

 coarse brown cloak, which was drawn over the lower 

 part of his face, apparently with a view to conceal- 

 ment. A broad-brimmed felt hat was slouched over 



