The sun sank into the immeasurable ocean, and his last burning kiss gleamed in gold and purple sparks upon the foamy summits of the green waves and the dark cedar-garland of Hispaniola, when young Montbars from the small island of Bayaha in deep thought gazed after the boat that had borne him thither and was now returning. When in the glowing sea it disappeared from his dazzled eye, he shuddered for an instant, then manned himself and calmly took his indicated road. After having walked for about an hour, he perceived at the foot of a rock an old huntsman, of strangely uncouth appearance, stretched on the mossy turf; a broad-leafed round hat surmounted his gray hair, which in wild disorder was floating around a dark and deeply furrowed countenance; his linen shirt and the rest of his dress, brown-red, and stiff with the gore of slaughtered game, and his mocassins of undressed boarskin, did not embellish his aspect. From his leather girdle there hung some knives and a short sword; beside him a long and heavy rifle was lying, and around him a number of fierce bull-dogs had stretched themselves. On the approach of the stranger they sprang up with fearful growl, and ran open-mouthed upon him. "Call off your dogs, or I kill them!" cried he, drawing his sword. The old hunter whistled, and the Molossians bounded back to him wagging their tails. "Inform me, friend, where I may find the Bucanier Montauban ?" 66 That name lies at the bottom of the sea," grumbled the old man-"the certificate of my baptism I used as wadding for my first shot at the bull; now I am called Taureau." "How?-yourself?" cried Montbars, with a surprise by no means agreeable. "Provided you have no objection, young man," sneered the

veteran, examining him from head to foot. "Then God save you, uncle," said the youth," I am the son of your sister, Montbars.

"Are you, indeed ?" answered the oldman, hiding a sudden emotion, and like a solitary sun-beam through a dark thunder-cloud, a joyful smile played across his gloomy features. " Well, you are welcome, my boy; sit down here beside me," said he good humouredly, "you don't displease me; the vigour of your father and the grace of your mother seem united in your form as in a focus; but do head and heart correspond? A handsome good-fornothing is a zebra, where a pantherskin does but hide an ass."

“I didn't think, I have disgraced you yet,” cried the youth, jumping up and reddening.

"Just like his father," said Taureau ; I'm glad on't, I only wanted to try you; come, sit down again and keep yourself cool; from an old uncle thy honour may well bear a rash word. Now, let us have some friendly chat : what do you want here in the Antilles, Frank ?"

"To tread in the footsteps of my father, and revenge his death," cried Montbars in wild enthusiasm; "with Spanish blood to wash off the tear that my heart-broken mother's death wrung from my eye-to revenge the millions of unhappy Indians whom the thirst for gold and blood, and hellish fanaticism have slaughtered, horribly to revenge them on their proud executioners!"

"The old song! I have often heard it sung already," said Taureau quietly, "but the longer I hear it, the more dismal does the wild air sound to me. Your father, too, sang it with so strong a voice, that in the royal palace of Madrid the windows rattled, but it was a deso

lating wizard tune that drew the peace out of his soul. What drives you to the Antilles, urged him also hither. To be an angel of vengeance against the Spaniards, he believed to be his calling-and truly he became it well; his name is celebrated in these seas, and Spain calls him the Destroyer. But he was never cheerful-ill dreams came flitting between him and his sleep. The man who, like the plague or the earthquake, desires to become the scourge of God, must himself share the ruin soon or late; and if his heart be so tempered and hardened with hellish fire, that he can remain calm amidst his doings, he belongs already to the pit. Ah! so then, you really mean to become a Flibustier, Frank ?" "For that I left my native country," said Montbars firmly," and it is not from you, that I should have expected this sermonizing. You, Bucaniers, are ye not likewise the enemies of the Spaniards-the close allies of the Coastbrothers?" 66 Aye, we are so," replied the veteran, but we have kept our hands clean. However, enough of that; the sun is already below the sea, let us find our way home." He rose, and in silence led his nephew into the

thicket of the forest.

After a long walk they came to an open space, over which the full moon seemed suspended. With short glad barks a pack of bull-dogs sprang to meet them, and Montbars' eye that everywhere sought a dwelling, found nothing but some sheds which, covered only from above against the rain, and open to the wind on all sides, promised an inhospitable, if not stormy couch. "Bring us our supper," called Taureau to some men, who were busied in stretching bull-hides and salting meat. Then the smoked quarter of a wild bull was placed upon the stump of a felled cedar, whose stem lying near it, served as a bench. Montbars took his seat, received a knife for carving from the girdle of his uncle and looked inquiringly round, as if he still wanted something. "Do you wish for any thing, Frank?" asked Taureau, smiling. I guess my supper does not seem too good. Ah! my friend, no crême and confectionaries-no Burgundy and Champaign have we to offer you; in

deed, any wine is a rarity on these coasts."

"I have learnt to want such things, uncle, and water will quench the thirst," rejoined Montbars touched, "but a piece of bread I should like to my meat."

"I am heartily sorry for it, even that I cannot supply you with at present," said the uncle, laughing; "bread, too, is amongst the unnecessary articles which have been struck off our list. Have patience till to-morrow. On Tortuga you may get every thing your heart desires. Now, go to rest, that you may be fit for the hunt tomorrow." He led him into one of the sheds, where a couch, prepared of the hides of wild boars, received the guests. Shaking his head, Montbars threw himself upon it, and amidst the snoring of the pack stretched around them, and the distant cries of the owls, and their nightly companion, the Diablotin, he soon fell asleep.

The morning dawned, but night was still lingering in the Bucan, round which gigantic cedars were towering. Nathless all were already stirring, the menials were preparing for the hunt, the dogs rose slowly, stretched their powerful limbs, and shook themselves, -and the uncle stepped to Montbars' couch to waken him. Refreshed by the short slumber, the youth sprang up, and seized the musquetoon which a servant handed him, together with powder and ball. The bugles rangthe halloo resounded-the pack howled a wild chorus, and the hunt started. Long they marched through the night of the forest, in a silence which was only broken at times, by the sawing of the elephant-cockchafer and the hammering of the blacksmith in the wood. Then morning crimsoned the small light clouds, that fluttered about the tops of the immense cedars, with a lovely roseate fringe; the chatterring of the macaw awoke in the distance, and with varied melody resembling a human voice, the notes of the mountain whistler,* reached the pedestrians. Now Taureau bade his companions to halt, distributed the shooters and the dogs, keeping his nephew with him, and the sports began. Soon was heard a cracking in the lower branches of the cedars, and a hollow bellowing then became

audible; and started by the scenting hounds a wild bullock rushed with terrible force through the thicket, and pawing with his legs, and with his horns rooting up the ground, he approached old Taureau, who coolly raised his musquetoon and sent an ounce-ball to his heart. The wild rejoicing shouts of the attendants accompanied the fall of the powerful brute, and eagerly they fell on the carcase to dismember it.

"So we have already earned our breakfast," said the uncle, and beckoned to the men, who soon brought the marrow-bones of the bullock to their master. "Will you be my guest ?" asked he, smiling at his nephew, whilst he crudely sucked the warm marrow from the bloody bone. The latter had just declined with a motion of his hand, when wild cries resounded through the forest, and bleeding from late wounds three bucaniers rushed in. "The bullhunting is over for to-day," cried the first, enraged; "I call you to hunt men-beasts. The Spaniards have taken five of our party, and are dragging them towards the shore. Your Matelot is amongst them, Taureau!"

66

My Henry!" cried the veteran, who at once showed the bucanier, his eyes sparkling with rage, whilst he charged his rifle. At his bidding the bulldogs were coupled, and the bucaniers led the pack to the sea-side where a Spanish boat lay at anchor. Unperceived by its crew the small band distributed themselves behind the rocks and waited till a strong picket of armed Spaniards issued from the forest, the bucaniers bound in the centre and a young nobly formed Don with waving plume at their head. The Spaniards were about five times superior in number, but Taureau quickly gave the signal to fire. Every shot told; and now the dogs were loosed upon the surprised enemies, whilst the bucaniers with naked blades rushed in. The murderous fight was of short duration; then the prisoners were freed, and of the Spaniards, part covered the shore as corpses, while part escaped to the boat which with all haste endeavoured to gain the high sea. Their leader only, too proud to take to flight, with his back to a cocoa-tree, courageously defended himself against the foaming bucaniers, while his long rapier hissed in quick fiery circles around him. At length one of his antagonists losing

patience, fell back, charged his rifle afresh and levelled it at the Spaniard. Montbars perceived in time the danger of the brave enemy; his old chivalrous spirit awoke, he sprang before the youth, and pointing his blood-covered blade at the bucanier, he thundered "halt!" But the man unheeding bent aside to send his ball through the hated foe. "I cut you down, if you fire!" cried Montbars, running in upon him. Then Taureau, rushing from the embraces of his liberated Henry, stopped his blood-thirsty comrade, and bade the Spaniard surrender his sword. "Never!" cried he with his last strength, and sank exhausted from loss of blood at the foot of the tree. Montbars knelt down and endeavoured to bandage the deep wound in his arm. With satisfaction Taureau stood looking on, till the Spaniard raised his dark eyes, and their first glance fell gratefully on his preserver.

"Whoever you may be, bring me to Hispaniola," he said with a low voice, "on my knightly word I will pay you there a princely ransom."

"We have not been fighting for gold, but for the freedom of our brothers," answered Taureau sharply.

"I will carry him on my shoulders into our bucan," cried Montbars with youthful joy.

No, my dear boy," said Taureau with gravity, "there his death would be certain. Two bucaniers sleep here the sleep of death: you do not know the laws of our blood-revenge. In Hispaniola alone his hardly-spared life will be safe."

At this moment the waves were rolling a canoe with its innocent fishermen to the shore. Taureau called to them. Obeying the commands of one of the terrible masters of the island, they were willing to carry the Spaniard across. Montbars bore the wounded man into the canoe, and to escape his thanks, quickly leaped ashore. Off started the boat and rowed towards Hispaniola. Cordially shook the uncle his nephew's hand, and said kindly,

you may safely join the Flibustiers, Frank, for I am certain, that even amongst them you will remain a man."

Wild and unbridled rejoicings were heard upon the isle of Tortuga, when Taureau's boat, freighted with Montbars and a cargo of bull-hides, came

ashore. The famous pirate, Van Horn, had just brought in a Spanish silver galleon, and his mad Flibustiers did their best to rid themselves of the piastres and gold bars as fast as they had taken their booty. Montbars was disagreeably surprised when, stepping ashore, he looked on the revellings of the wild pirate crews. Here a number were stretched around a large winecask, of which the bung was pulled out and flung away; incessantly the golden fountain streamed into the goblets, which were emptied as fast as filled, and he who had no vessel, held his mouth under the wine-stream, till he had enough, and now rid of his senses, bedded himself in the sands of the shore; there the dice rattled to immense wagers, which in a moment changed the raw-born Croesus into an Irus;-here the Coast-brothers were wheeling round good-natured wenches of all colours in a wild dance; in another place two heated with rage and intoxication, began the lawful duel for life and death, under the inspection of a commander, while a band with bare heads and feet marched in procession singing penitentiary psalms, towards the town to offer a precious monstranza, a booty of the taken galleon, in the name of the fleet, upon the chapelaltar.-Speechless stared Montbars upon the motley group of horrors, whilst Taureau left him to find a purchaser for his hides. Suddenly, borne on the wings of mortal fear, a black girl rushed forth, and knelt down on one of the steep cliffs that hung over the sea. "Holy Virgin, restore this part," cried she, wringing her hands, "that I go to the Father before he calls me, that without confession-without being reconciled by the sacred anointment, I precipitate myself with my sins into the waves, to escape from earthly pollution!" And determined, the girl rose for the deadly leap, but Montbars reached her at the critical moment, and powerfully clasped his arms round her. "Unhappy girl, what would you do?" asked he with a gentle reproach, and her black glowing eyes raised themselves to him with confidence.

"Yes, that is a human voice and a human face!" cried the beautiful creature. "Thou hast not saved me from suicide, in order to sacrifice me to the savage passions of thy brothers."

"By my honor, no!" said Montbars,

and boldly looked round for the adversaries whom he might have to contend with.

"Woe to me, there they come already," cried the girl." Now keep your word, noble Sennor, or thrust me yourself into the sea, that you may spare me that sin, and that I may die by honest hands."

The youth tore out his rapier, and hot with wine three Flibustiers ran forward. "There is the black Donna," shouted one. "Down from the cold cliff to my warm bosom," bellowed another; whilst the third cried to Montbars, "that wench belongs to us three; don't put yourself to any inconvenience about her, young gentleman."

"The girl has placed herself under my protection," answered he coolly, "and who wants her, may win her with his blade."

"Well, you can be accommodated," roared the rover, and three sabres flashed against Montbars, who defended himself like an enraged tiger. Already was he bleeding from a wound on his forehead, when suddenly a voice be hind them called "stand back," and with naked sword a man of majestic appearance stood between the combatants. White ostrich-feathers rising from a diamond egret waved over his velvet hat, on his jacket of gold embroidery a string of large oriental pearls was hanging, and his fingers sparkled with rubies and emeralds of invaluable price.

"The admiral,” muttered the confounded Flibustiers, giving way, and lowered their arms. "Three against one!" cried Van Horn angrily," and ye dare to call yourselves Flibustiers."

"On our side is heaven-crying justice," said one of the rovers, who first regained his courage. "We had seized that lass on the conquered galleon, heads or tails was to decide whom she should belong to first. We were tossing up the piastre, but in the mean time she made her escape, and this milk-beard, who is not even a coastbrother, must dispute her with us; if we strike hard, there is a strong reason for it."

"The girl was going to throw herself into the sea, to escape from the clutches of these monsters," said Montbars with a noble passion. "I have prevented her; my life answers for her honour:

therefore be a mild judge, admiral: from a man who knows so well the duty of a warrior, I expect protection for a helpless woman!"

With pleasure, Van Horn surveyed the speaker. "Too forward perhaps," said he, smiling, “but better too much than too little. Who are you, young man ?" The youth told his name. "How! the son of the Destroyer?" asked Van Horn rejoiced.

"That he is, admiral, and my nephew into the bargain," answered Taureau for him, as with drawn sword he just then arrived in haste to Montbars' assistance.

"Well, you do honour to your father and to your uncle," continued Van Horn, frankly reaching him his hand; then turned with terrible earnestness to the robber-trio : 66 By our articles the prisoners belong to the general prize, and the admiral has the choice of three. I claim this lass and give her to the young man; you have usurped what was not yours, and against my orders, like cowardly banditti, with superior force attacked a single man. Therefore give up your swords and go as prisoners to your ships." There sullen fire flashed from the eyes of the marauders; they looked at one another like tigers that prepare jointly to spring upon their prey; their clenched hands convulsively clasped the swords more firmly, and they stood as if rooted to the earth.

"Do you mutiny?" asked Van Horn, and with majesty stepped towards them. Then two grew pale and went, but the third, overwhelmed by rage and intoxication, treacherously fired his pistol at the girl, who lay fainting in Montbars'

arms.

The ball whistled over her head, and with a single blow of his fist Van Horn sent the fellow to the ground. "Now you do not go to your ships," called he to the two others, with a voice of thunder.

"Thou draggest this scoundrel to yonder grove, and answerest with thy head for him; and thou summonest thither the judge of the fleet and the jurors to hold their trial. Then ye all come to stand before them."

Struck dumb, and recognising their superior's authority, the freebooters, whose intoxication had evaporated, obeyed, and Montbars gratefully embraced the admiral.

“All right, my young friend," said

the latter, laughing, "but you do me too much honour, if you place entirely to your account what the maintenance of order requires. The crew have grown very wild, because it is long since I had one of them shot. This affair was a lucky hit, for it affords me an opportunity to enforce the old sanguinary law. If they cease to fear, they require a devil for a captain, a man cannot master them. Give you joy, however, of your share of the bu siness," added he with a laughing look at the black girl. "In an hour come to the trial; there I shall procure satisfaction both to you and the law." He went away.

"What now, with the poor creature?" asked Montbars, gravely of his uncle.

"Why did you meddle with such troublesome ware," grumbled the latter; "he has hardly put foot ashore, and has already encumbered himself with a wench. For a bucanier you are spoiled."

"Scold me, uncle, but help me," urged the youth.

"Well, then, come along, and take her with you to yonder tent," rejoined Taureau. "There my old friend, Captain Brodely, is staying; formerly he was a bold bull-hunter, and for seven years my matelot; then Satan enticed him to go amongst the Flibustiers, and at last he turned fool, and married. Just now he introduced his wife to me, who, considering she is a woman, seems sensible enough. To her we shall entrust that lass."

"Are you satisfied ?" asked Montbars, of the maiden.

"What choice has the protected when her preserver commands?" said she, with a glow of gratitude on her dark countenance, and pressed the hand of the youth to her warm lips and heaving bosom. With a curious mixture of sensation and sentiment, he freed his hand from her grasp, and led the strange girl to Brodely's tent.

Hollow rattled the drum that called to the trial of the coast-brothers; the crew of all Van Horn's vessels assembled in the grove, where the three robbers, with foreboding looks were awaiting their fate. The judge of the fleet, an old gray-bearded pirate mounted a sort of chair; around him the jurors took their places, except four who had