418 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



while the Proveditore, unmoved by the imminence of 

 the peril, preserved his dignity of mien, and fixed 

 his deep stern gaze upon the pirate. Jurissa paused 

 for an instant, staggered by the look and awed by the 

 commanding aspect of the Venetian. Soon, however, 

 as though indignant at his own momentary hesita- 

 tion, he rushed forward with a furious shout and up- 

 lifted blade. The knife was descending, the next 

 instant it would have entered the heart of Marcello, 

 when an Uzcoque, recognising by the light of the 

 conflagration the patrician garb of the Proveditore, 

 uttered a cry of surprise, and seized the arm of his 

 bloodthirsty leader. 



" Caiduch ! " exclaimed the pirate, " would you 

 again blast our purpose ? This man is a Venetian 

 noble. His life may buy that of Dansowich." 



" It is the Proveditore Marcello ! " cried Antonio, 

 eager to profit by the momentary respite. 



The words of the young painter passed from mouth 

 to mouth, and in a few seconds the whole of the 

 Uzcoques were acquainted with the important cap- 

 ture that had been made. For a moment astonish- 

 ment kept then tongue-tied, and then a wild shout 

 of "exultation conveyed to their companions on shore 

 the intelligence of some joyful event. 



Hopes were now thrown out to the pirate skiffs, 

 the galley was safely towed into the harbour, and the 

 Proveditore, his son, and the few Venetian sailors 

 who had escaped the general slaughter, were con- 



