THE PIRATES OF SEGXA. 397 



on theo, and thou art as dust and ashes. "NVhy, then, 

 dost thou rise from the dead to fright me with that 

 ghastly visage ? " 



" Is the face known to you, father ? " the astonished 

 Antonio ventured to exclaim. 



" Known to me ! Ay, too well ! That wrinkled 

 skin, that unearthly complexion, those deep-set eyes 

 glowing like burning coals. Just so did she glare 

 upon me as she swung from the tree, the blood driven 

 into her features by the agonising pressure of the 

 halter. 'Tis the very look that has haunted me for 

 years, and caused me many bitter moments of re- 

 morse ; though, God knows, the deed was lawful and 

 justifiable, done in the execution of my duty to the 

 republic. And yet she lives," he continued musingly. 

 " How could she have been saved ? True, she had 

 not been hanging long when we left the place. Some 

 of her people, doubtless, were concealed hard by, and 

 cut her down ere life had entirely fled. But, ha ! 'tis 

 a clue this to the perpetrators of to-day's outrage, for 

 she was with them. Uzcoques, then, they must have 

 been ! Said you not, Antonio, that she came from 

 the house of the Capitano when first you saw her, 

 and that to-day you left her there?" 



" At her own special desire, father," replied An- 

 tonio. 



" Then is the chain of evidence almost complete," 

 continued the Proveditore. " It must have been her- 

 self. And now this attack on the Malipieri palace. 



