Minna's  hand ;  "  to  separate  me  from  Minna,  while
I  have  life,  must  be  the  work  of  herself  alone."
"  Away ! "  said   Noma,    stepping   betwixt   them,

—  "  away  with  such  idle  folly  !  —  Nourish  no  vain
dreams  of  future  meetings  —  you  part  here,  and  you
part  for  ever.  The  hawk  pairs  not  with  the  dove ;
guilt  matches  not  with  innocence.  —  Minna  Troil,
you  look  for  the  last  time  on  this  bold  and  crimi-
nal man  —  Cleveland,  you  behold  Minna  for  the
last  time  ! "

"And  dream  you,"  said  Cleveland,  indignantly,
"  that  your  mummery  imposes  on  me,  and  that  I
am  among  the  fools  who  see  more  than  trick  in  your
pretended  art  ? "

"  Forbear,  Cleveland,  forbear  ! "  said  Minna,  her
hereditary  awe  of  Noma  augmented  by  the  circum-
stance of  her  sudden  appearance.  "  0,  forbear  !  —
she  is  powerful  —  she  is  but  too  powerful.  —  And
do  you,  0  Noma,  remember  my  father's  safety  is
linked  with  Cleveland's."

"  And  it  is  well  for  Cleveland  that  I  do  remem-
ber it,"  replied  the  Pythoness  —  "  and  that,  for  the
sake  of  one,  I  am  here  to  aid  both.  You,  with  your
childish  purpose,  of  passing  one  of  his  bulk  and
stature  under  the  disguise  of  a  few  paltry  folds  of
wadmaal  —  what  would  your  device  have  procured
him  but   instant  restraint  with  bolt  and  shackle  ?

—  I  will  save  him  —  I  will  place  him  in  security  on
board  his  bark.  But  let  him  renounce  these  shores
for  ever,  and  carry  elsewhere  the  terrors  of  his  sable
flag,  and  his  yet  blacker  name ;  for  if  the  sun  rises
twice,  and  finds  him  still  at  anchor,  his  blood  be  on
his  own  head.  —  Ay,  look  to  each  other  —  look  the
last  look  that  I  permit  to  frail  affection,  —  and  say,
if  ye  can  say  it,  Farewell  for  ever  ! "


THE  PIRATE.  265

"  Obey  her,"  stammered  Minna ;  "  remonstrate  not,
but  obey  her."

Cleveland,  grasping  her  hand,  and  kissing  it  ar-
dently, said,  but  so  low  that  she  only  could  hear  it,
"  Parewell,  Minna,  but  not  for  ever."

"And  now,  maiden,  begone,"  said  Noma,  "and
leave  the  rest  to  the  Eeimkennar."

"  One  word  more,"  said  Minna,  "  and  I  obey  you.
