pleasure, my kind departed friend, my forlorn wanderings with cruel and remorseless men, until my heart found relief in heavy silent tears; grief, which is often as stupifying as fatigue, soon closed my eyes in sleep; where horrid dreams, connected with the disputes of the day, harrassed and tormented me; again, I heard their loud and angry tones; again, I saw their fierce and menacing gestures. Methought they were engaged in deadly conflict, and that I saw Velasquez covered with many a deadly wound sink on the deck. The noise of his fall resembled thunder and awoke me; when I soon found my dream in part a sad reality. Disputes had again arisen, and during the bustle, the ship had been suffered to strike against a sandbank, owing to the negligence of the steersman, whose attention had been called to the combat. Morning was just breaking, and soon lent them light sufficient to rectify their error and clear the ship from her peril, but not without considerable damage. This was an additional argument with the superstitious, who all agreed that such a train of contrary accidents was an evident mark of St. Dominick's displeasure at their harbouring enemies of the true faith; that, sink or swim, overboard we should go, like another Jonas, that they might be rid of the cause of malediction. "Hitherto passive, I now sprang up, and casting myself before these cruel men, implored for- mercy: they were implacable. Oh Velasquez! save me,' I exclaimed, and clung to his knees; let us both be D set adrift in this little boat with some provisions; your skill will guide it, and wherever we may land, no men can treat us worse than these have done.' He hung his head but spoke not; again I entreated his protection. Zulema,' he said, 'I cannot save you; we cannot be far from the coast of Spain; the wind is serene and will probably drift you thither; to scenes like these you would be constantly exposed if you remained here; my life would prabably fall a sacrifice without assisting you. Be content; we must part; your injuries and innocence will be more likely to draw down Heaven's succour, than if impeded with the presence of my crimes.' So saying, he shook me from him, and though I retained my senses, the utter despair that assailed me, left me, like one dead, flat on the deck. A moment's pause, occasioned probably by some small touch of pity, kept all around silent; but the cry from below for more assistance to stop the leak, revived the memory of their disasters and their hatred of the supposed cause. They lifted me into the boat where my child still slept, and placing a couple of small loaves and a cask of water by my side, threw over us a large cloak, and lowered us into the deep sea. The chilliness of the morning air seemed to run like death over my blood, or more likely the numbing sensation of hopelessness, unaccompanied by tears and shrieks. I lay resigned and motionless, expecting every moment to be ingulphed in the wide waters. Nothing however could be more smooth and easy than our course; the sun rose resplendent, not a breath of wind agitated the deep, and heat shortly became the oppressive sensation. My child soon after awaking and demanding food, I took courage to sit up; but when I gazed upon the dreary expanse and saw our little bark rocking on each wave, I closed my eyes, giddy and fearful. "After a time, I recollected that the only chance for my child's preservation was, that I should retain my strength; I therefore ate of some bread and gave my child some. Young as he was, the melancholy of my countenance struck him, and he endeavoured by his little carresses to comfort and enliven me; nor did they altogether fail procuring me a momentary cessation from bitter thoughts. So wore away the day, the heat intense and no land visible; parched with thirst, I lifted the cask to drink, when either by some movement of the child's, or it might be the suggestion of my fancy, the boat lurched, and the untasted liquid slipt from my hands overboard: endeavouring to stop it, the bread which lay on my lap fell likewise, and thus were we additionally tormented by the pangs of hunger and thirst. I must not expatiate on this scene of my miseries: my own bodily sufferings seemed to cease, or at least were unheeded, in contemplating the agonies of my little one. Dear patient soul! as though conscious of my inability to supply its wants, it ceased to make any demands; but, overcome with fever and exhaustion, laid its head quietly on my bosom, and from time to time faintly endeavoured to open his languishing eyes. "I could not bear it; but casting a reproachful look to Heaven, I held in my breath tightly, hoping that my heart would break with the effort; but, alas! the stubborn thing had not endured sufficiently. I have not a perfect recollection of what followed: I think I remember the stars looking out upon our misery, and fantastic forms hovering round us, sometimes of a benign aspect, but more frequently of a hideous threatening appearance. And thus you found us, and thus your kind offices just arrived in time to save our lives." END OF THE FIRST PART. PART THE SECOND. Ye have Angels' faces, but Heaven knows your hearts. Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity, SHAKESPEAR. THE tale which Zulema had related failed not to raise in the breast of Alvarez a variety of powerful emotions. Her youthful romantic enthusiasm; her ardent, trusting love; her rejection and forlorn wandering; all touched him with pity or admiration; and while a few tears fell to her sufferings, a sensation of envy was experienced towards the object who had excited so powerful an interest in so kind a heart. I will not say that Alvarez felt love at first sight of the beauteous stranger; yet the singularity of her appearance, her loveliness, and her misfortunes (together with his own previous experience, which had rendered him particularly susceptible to the romance of such an adventure) had certainly given rise to those |