commander. They amounted to about
eight hundred men, but exhibited a miserable appearance, both with
regard to arms and equipment. He harangued them upon the glory of their
cause, and exhorted the chiefs to a rigid observance of their duty.
Having thus terminated this singular exhibition to his entire
satisfaction, he returned with the same parade to his humble mansion,
which, in compliment to its illustrious inhabitant, was now dignified
with the title of the palace.

CHAPTER II.

Mais puisque je naquis, sans doute il falloit naitre;
Si l'on m'eut consulte, j'aurais refuse l'etre.
Vains regrets! Le destin me condamnoit au jour,
Et je viens, o soleil! te maudire a mon tour.

_Lamartine_.

I have no dread,
And feel the curse to have no natural fear
Nor fluttering throb, that beats with hopes or wishes
Or lurking love of something on the earth.

_Lord Byron_.

Returned to his dwelling, Caneri seated himself to his repast, which,
though frugal in the extreme, was nevertheless served with all the
etiquette of a sovereign. The taciturnity of the renegade was if
possible more marked than ever, nor could he be prevailed upon to
partake of the food which was before them. Caneri felt an invincible
desire to dive into the mysterious history of his confidant; an attempt
which he had already frequently made, but always unattended with
success. As soon, therefore, as their meal was finished, he dismissed
the attendants, and turning to the renegade in the most friendly
manner--

"Alagraf," he said, "cheer up; let not thy noble spirit droop: think on
our cause, and rouse thy energies in proportion to the danger which
surrounds us."

"Danger!" cried the renegade, "talk not to me of danger--I am reckless
now of consequences;--what is the whole world to me? My hated, my
detested enemy is no more;--the only longing of my life is thwarted, and
I can feel no longer any interest in the pursuits of man."

"Surely!" exclaimed Caneri, somewhat alarmed, "thou dost not mean to
abandon our cause!"

"Moor!" replied the renegade, in a voice of thunder, his eyes flashing,
and his brows assuming an additional sternness--"Moor! is it to me thou
darest hold such language? Thinkest thou that being _once_ a traitor, my
whole existence must be made up of treasons? Suspicious man, know me
better; I am a dark and accursed villain; hat