THE PIRATES OF SEGNA. 363 



prison, a large square apartment, the sides of which 

 were panelled to a considerable height, and imper- 

 fectly lighted by small windows, or rather embras- 

 ures, perforating a wall many feet in thickness. Here 

 they were left to their reflections, and to what com- 

 fort they could derive from a lamp and a supply of 

 provisions. Hassan, wearied with his journey, has- 

 tily swallowed his supper, and stretching himself 

 upon a palliasse, soon forgot his calamities in sound 

 repose. Ibrahim, more vigilant and less apprehensive 

 of future evil, as the Turks and Austrians were then 

 at peace, paced awhile along the floor of his spacious 

 prison, musing on the peerless charms of the Uzcoque 

 maiden. From time to time he gazed upon the walls 

 and windows as if calculating the chances of escape, 

 when gradually the peculiar and regular design of 

 the panelling caught and fixed his attention. It 

 was divided by prominent mouldings into oblong 

 squares, from the centres of which projected large 

 diamond-shaped bosses of carved oak. This peculi- 

 arity at length roused into action some reminiscences 

 of the early life and adventures of his beloved patron, 

 the Pacha of Bosnia, to the recital of which he had 

 often in his boyhood listened with eager delight. 

 These recollections, at first shadowy and indistinct, 

 became gradually more vivid and accurate, until fin- 

 ally the full conviction flashed upon him that his 

 benefactor, when taken prisoner in his youth by the 

 Austrians, had been confined in this very tower and 



