islanders twelve zecchini*; and as they had no money, they disembarked six measures of wheat, counting two zecchini the measure;-grain being very dear on account of the war; for there is little or none in the country, owing to the scarcity last year and the year before; and indeed, it grows more and more costly every year since the war began, by which foreign vessels profit; but every thing has an end, with the aid of heaven. "To return to my story,-it was a fine sight, when the little boy was restored to his mother, and all embraced him; and his mother ran to embrace the Turk also, crying and sobbing, and every body's heart melted, even the enemy's likewise: whereupon they parted like the best of friends, and went each their own way." “ 27. "Yesterday, at three o'clock, a circumstance occurred, which made a wonderful sensation, and which I shall relate according to the most faithful information; a great deal indeed being from the testimony of my own eyes. Simeon Alberti, a noble of this place, had succeeded to a certain property at the death of the late Canon Alberti; when the possession of the estates was disputed by Sime Gelicich, called Baciccio, a good and honest citizen. However, the rights of the said Alberti were confirmed by a sentence of the tribunal of Padua; the which notable injustice broke the heart of Baciccio, and he died of grief. His son, Piero Baciccio, a young man not twenty-six, finding himself deprived of his inheritance, and persecuted by the Albertis, fled with his mother to Salona, and afterwards, for better security, to Clissa; where the Turks * Called Zecchini, from Zecca, the "mint;" and corrupted into sequins. made him first secretary to the Dasdar, and gave him besides the command of a troop of cavalry. "The same had sworn to knock on the head as many of the house of Alberti as he could lay hands on; for Elena Alberti was his ladyelove, and Luca Alberti, the head of the family, when he asked her in marriage, had spurned him from his palace, as a low and vile mechanic, and had ordered his followers to horsewhip him; but Baciccio knit his brow, drew his dagger, and the menial retreated. Upon this he fled; and promised the enemy, by his soul, if they would give him fifty horse, to return in the evening with such a booty as never was known before. So yesterday he came; and completely taking our guard at the outposts by surprise, he killed two, and badly handled many; and then pushed on to Spalato, where the fugitives spread the alarm before him. "One of the youths of the Alberti family, who was a cornet, collected his men in haste, and went out to meet him. Baciccio, espying him, immediately spurred on his horse, crying out furiously, What! can only one be found to come, out of so many? but he is enough for the present, and I advise him to take care of himself.' The young man put himself on his guard, and the fight began. “We and the Turks took our hands off our weapons, to see the sight; when, all of a sudden, a fit of remorse seized Baciccio, and he became calm, and wished to avoid killing his adversary; but having challenged him, he thought he could not in honour draw back, so he contented himself with standing on the defensive. At length, the young man made a well-aimed blow at his breast, which he parried, and received on his arm; whereupon, feeling himself wounded, Baciccio lost his temper, and set to work in good earnest; pointing his sword at Alberti's breast, which the blade was on the point of entering, when he perceived that the young man wore a scarf, which he knew to be the work of Elena, with her name embroidered thereon. At the sight of it he tried to stop his hand; but despite his endeavours, the weapon pierced deep into the shoulder; from whence the blood rushed out like a wine vat; upon which Baciccio, in despair, took Alberti in his arms, and began to lament, and call for help. “The Turks were greatly astonished, and we not less so, being unable to understand this marvellous change of mood. However some ran to fetch Rolando, the skilful leech, who hastened to come; and in the meanwhile, Baciccio himself, taking up the wounded youth, began to carry him into the town, saying, 'If they kill me, it will serve me right.' But the Turks threatened him with his mother, if he did not return: so he embraced the young man with tears, and departed. At the same time the Turks, who remained behind, made a rich booty, carrying off five hundred sheep and twenty-two oxen; and on their going back with Baciccio to the castle in the evening, the Dasdar lavished many praises on the enterprise, and said he should send him on another before long; though, in truth, being secretly informed by his spies of all that had passed, he meant to avenge it; for all Moslems are suspicious and full of deceit. "The unhappy Piero then went to his quarters, and related to his mother the state of affairs; how he yearned to return to Spalato, for pardon and remission of sins, and how they must endeavour to make their escape immediately. His mother replied, 'My son, I am old, and at death's door; and you know, when we quitted our home, that you deceived me, under pretence of going on a pilgrimage (to offer up our prayers together to our Lady of the Mountain), which turned out, instead, to be a flight to the Turkish territory, and the enemies of our holy religion. Your father would have died sooner than be guilty of such a sin; and no indignity could have driven him to abandon his own people! Who would have supposed his son capable of the like?' Then, seeing that these reproaches were more than he could bear, she added, not to drive him to despair, My child! atonement is still possible: let us fly.' Baciccio threw himself at his mother's feet, and imploring her to forgive him, promised he would, at all hazards, retrace his steps. So they laid their plans together, and embraced each other. "At the dead of night, when all was silent in the castle, and in our lines also, and the wind blew, and the rain poured, and a thick mist covered the ground, Baciccio called one of his men, and told him to saddle the horses. As soon as the man had got them ready, he led his mother out of a little postern of the castle, pretending to have the Dasdar's orders; and when they were beyond the walls, he entreated her to push on with all speed towards Spalato, where, with God's help, he would rejoin her shortly. She, at first, refused to quit him; however, at length, yielding to his intreaties, she departed, but ere she had gone half a mile, Piero heard the sound of fire-arms, and then his mother's voice, calling loudly on him for help. "He followed like lightning, and came up with her, surrounded by six Turks, and lamenting bitterly. One of them was trying to comfort her; who, when he saw Baciccio said, Piero, the Sangiak ordered me to lie in wait, and seize you, the moment you should attempt to quit Clissa: but I do not forget that, about a year ago, owed much to your house and family. The people of Spalato ill-treated and killed Osmar Bek, then in com I mand of Salona, and I was with him, and should have been murdered also, if your kindred had not taken compassion upon me, and hidden me in your house. Now, therefore, go; and may the prophet watch over you, and your mother; be quick, while it is still dark.' 'Janus, my brother!" exclaimed Baciccio; and throwing his arms round him, he embraced him heartily; and so they separated. "Baciccio went on to Spalato, and the Rettore having granted him pardon, all the people crowded to his house, and flocked round Piero and his mother, to hear them tell their story. In the midst of all this, the rumour spread of an attack on our outposts, when Baciccio, escaping from the crowd, seized an arquebus, and sallied forth to the scene of action. : “The Dasdar had dispatched fifty horse, to unite with Janus's troop, and attack Spalato; and the peasants going out into the fields, after last night's storm, saw the cavalry coming, and returned to the city with the tidings. The outposts, notwithstanding their scanty numbers, waited to receive them and the captains, on the alarm, had hastened to the rescue; so that the skirmish was at its height when Baciccio arrived; and the first thing he saw was Janus Bek, on horseback, fighting with the three brothers Vornich, on foot. Two of them were exhausted, and had given over to recover breath, but the youngest stood his ground till Janus gave him a cut over the forehead with his hangiar, that felled him to the ground. "Meanwhile, two other Turks rushed forward to assist Janus; but, perceiving Baciccio, fell upon him instead ; who, although out of breath, defended himself with spirit, and, when his arquebus missed fire, drew forth a pistol, and desperately wounded one of his adversaries. He then |