Taken By Beigands

Now , 1 do nae wish to imply that I could onderstand and talk the language pat off like this . I made out conversation slowly , and with difficulty ; but still I did o-et at their meaning , anel let them know

Dime . ' When may I gang back to my ship 1 " I asked . " Directly we have received your ransom , " he replied . " Kansom ? " cried I , bewildered . " Yes ; I suppose you know who we

are ?" " Not a bit of it ! " I answered . " Have you ever Heard of II Corbino ?" he inquired . " What ! the mountain thief—the brigand , as they call him ? " cried I . " Yes ,

to be sure . Are you him ?" " No ; I am only his lieutenant , " he said ; " but II Corbino himself will come back to-day , maist likely . " " And do you mean to say you have ta ' en the trouble to set a trap for me , and carry me off for the sake of getting a ransom ?" I asked .

" Certainly , replied the other . " Well , that is the best joke I ever heard in a' my life ! " cried I , laughing , and slapping my thigh .. " You are a rum sort of thieves , you are ! Why , you didna knaw the rudiments of your ain trade I you canna draw blood out of a stane ,

mon !" " We maun try , " said he . " We know what money you have in the Palermo Bank , and it isna very much , but you could easily raise ony loan you like by signing your name . "

"I wish I had known that before , " I said . " But are you in your senses , mon ? Do you suppose that any one with money at a banker ' s would serve as a common

sailor ?" t £ . " Oh ! I know why you have disguised yourself in a sailor ' s dress , so it ' s no use trying to pass that off , " he replied , with a laugh . Then the truth flashed upon me , and I cried : " Why I'm blest if you didna take me for Lairrl Goldfinch himself I "

" Certainly I do , " said the lieutenant , Mid bringing out pens , ink and paper , he told me to write a letter to the banker at Palermo , saying that I should die by

torture unless a certain sum could be raised by a certain date . The sura and date were left blank for the captain , II Corbino , to decide upon when he came ; but it seemed that he liked all little preliminaries to be got ready for

him . I wrote the letter , but told the lieutenant he was wasting paper , for Laird Goldfinch was safe on board his yacht , and the banker wad pay nae attention to it . " Hark you ! " said he , his manner which had been rather jokingturning to savage

, earnestness ; " Signer Englishman , II Corbino is a man who doesna like to be trifled with , and that you manna think it all child's play , I will tell you our custom in the regular course of business . If your letter isna answered at aince , you will

write another , more pressing , in which will be enclosed one of your ears , cut oft ' with a pair of scissors . If that doesna bring a satisfactory reply , we sent the other ear , with a couple of nails . You shrink at thatand are riht . I have tried a

, you g great variety of torments on different prisoners , and I think that drawing the nails is e ' en worse than roasting . But you will be able to judge for yourself gin the ransom isna forthcoming , since we always finish with fire .

up " Then I wish you would put a bullet through my head at once , " said I , for my story is quite true ; and now you have turned my pockets out , I havena a penny in the world . "

" The captain may believe that if he likes , " said the other ; " I do not . " He was ganging off , when I took the liberty of suggesting that if I died of hunger and thirst there would be nae chance of their getting their money , even if I were to be Laird Goldfinch .

He saw the truth of that , and gave an order whereby I got a lump of black bread , a bit of kid meat , and a pannikin of water . You may well think it strange that I should think of eating with such an awful prospect before me ; but it is a curious fact that an empty stomach has the loudest voice of anything in creation , and till its calls are attended to , nae future

prospect of pain or danger seems vera threatening . But when I had satisfied my hunger I had leisure to reflect upon the situation ;