, 1890-11-13

"CospettiW said deep voice-,-her
fathers-as she opened the doorj
"you knew we were coming back.
'"But not so soon," faltcred the
girl; II had fallen asleep" so say
Ing, To hide her confusion, sle
started to close the outer door.
"Wait," said the elder brother,
"there is more to bring up and he
went out with tho younger brother,
taking the path that led down 10
the shore. In u short time they re-
turned, bringing two more largo
packages. 81,
Now we can rest for n WHILE"
said the father, rs tho young men
threw their burdens down on the
floor with the other goods, give us
something to eat, Nina, we arc nun
gry."
The girl opened the cupboard,
took out large bowl of cold, thick
pottage, some cheese, salt fish, bread
and u bottle Of wine, and put nll on
the table. The men ate rapidly
When they had finished, they car
ried all the packages into the cave
room, fastening the door securely
with the heavy iron bolt. Then
| they went up to sleep In the cham
Der adjoining Nlnas, where there
Were three small beds. The men
were very tired, with the long and
heavy rowing and the climb up the
cliff. Their deep, measured BREATH
ing soon showed that they were
sleeping soundly.
All this had occupied scarcely
half an hour. But to Glgi Cam
pello, shut up In the wardrobe, yet
hearing all that passed below, IL
seemed an age. AT last Nina CAME
up, opened the door, and said In
low voice: "Iou must get out OF the
window-go, for heavens sake"
Terrified though he was, Gigi gave
n thought to the arrangement OF his
uniform while Nina opened the
window and hung out the half OF II
piece of coarse cloth, holding the
middle firmly with both hands and
bearing the whole weight OF her
body on the other end. Gigi got up
into the window, grasped the cloth,
and swung himselflightly and noise
lessly to the ground.
The night was dark and cloudy,
the sen beloved against the rocks,
and the wind whistled through the
pines ON the cliff. Nina stood at
the window, her eyes fixed on the
darkness, heart beating, ear intent,
until the faint sound of GigFs foot
steps was lost amid the roaring of
the waves and the whistling of the
wind. Then she closed the window
and thanked God for his safety.
The scene changes. We are in
the small barrack-room of the
coast-guards at San Fruttuoso. 1t
Is noon, and, rs the men are going
TO dinner, the lieutenant arrives on
the revenue sloop from Camogll.
Without much preamble, he calls
the brigadier and his men together,
and addresses them. "I.ast night
he says, "a large cargo of tobacco
was landed on this coast by IA boat
vice-brigadier and tho reward
offered by the government-several
hundred fraucs-will be given to
the man who makes the seizure
acting, he IL understood, with such
caution as not to arouse the
suspicious of the peasants in the
neighborhood, VINO, | believe, are
all In colluslon with the smugglers.
Who volunteers"
"Who volunteers" repeats the
brigadier In an authoritative tone,
initiating his superior.
The men look at each other in
silence, not knowing how to reply.
After II brief hesitation, Gigi Cam
pello stops forward and, saluting re-
spectiuliy, says:
~ lieutenant"
"Sou--howN
"Leave it to me, sir. Give me six
armed men, and tomorrow morn
ing the seizure shall be made"
agreed; but remember that II
you fail you will have fifteen days
In prisou-close confinement
"I shall not fail, SIR"
The night was calm and clear.
Nina, who, that evening, had no
thought of sleep, sat by the narrow
window, following, with her eyes,
the light on the prov of her fathers
boat, as it glided In and out among
the rocks-the harpoon ever ready
for the fish.
Suddenly, the sound of many foot
falls behind the house broke the ST.
lence of the night. The girl trem-
blcd and waited anxiously. a mo.
ment later platoon of men stood
before the door of the house.
open, in the name of the law!r
called u voice that she knew.
"Who is it?' cried the girl, not
believing her ears, and showing her
self terror-strlcken at the window.
Gigi Campello answered.: "There
Is SOM contraband tobacco here.
and we are come TO make the seiz-
ure.n
THE SEIZURE" mechanically re-
pcated Nina, as, turning her be-
wiidered gazc toward the sea, she
saw the light of the boat, In which
were her father and brothers, near
ing the shore. Nina thought rap
idly. She knew that they would
land In u short time, and, ignorant
of the danger, would come to the
house, into the very arms of the en-
envy, and be arrested. She under
stood the situation perfectly; un-
derstood all the treachery of Gipl.
felt her heart broken, her brain
reeling. ltallying her courage, she
called out:
'"Iou are mistaken; there Is no
tobacco here"
Open" answered Campello, "or
we will enter by force"
"Giglv exclaimed the poor girl
extending her hands in supplica-