Now then I am satisfied!' roared Abællino, and dashed the still full goblet upon the ground. Speak! what would you know of me? I am ready to give you answers.'

The first thing,' replied Matteo, 'the first thing necessary is to give us a proof of your strength, for this is of material importance in our undertakings.--Are you good at wrestling?'

'I know not try me.'

'Cinthia, remove the table-Now then, Abællino, which of us will undertake? you whom among us dost think, thou canst knock down as easy as yon poor dabbler in the art, Pietrino?"

'Which of you?' cried Abællino; 'all of you together, and half a dozen more such pitiful scoundrels !'—And he sprang from his seat, threw his sword on the table, and measured the strength of his an tagonist with his single eye.

The banditti burst into a loud fit of laughter.

Now then,' cried Abællino fiercely; "now then for the trial!-Why come you not forward?'

Fellow,' replied Matteo, take my advice; try first what you can do with me alone, and learn what sort of men you

have to manage. Think you, we are marrowless boys, or delicate signors, who waste their strength in the embrace of harlots?'

Abællino answered him only by a scornful laugh, Matteo became furious: his champions shouted aloud, and clapped their hands.

'To business!' said Abællino; ‘I am in a right humor for sport! Look to yourselves, my lads!'—And in the same instant he collected his forces together, threw the gigantic Matteo over his head as he had been an infant, knocked Struzzo down on the right hand, and Petrino on the left, tumbled Tomaso to the end of the room heels over head, and stretched Baluzzo without animation upon the neighboring benches.

Three minutes elapsed, ere the subdued bravos could recover themselves; loud shouted Abællino, while the astonished Cinthia gazed and trembled at the terrible exhibition.

By the blood of St. Januarius,' cried Matteo at length, rubbing his battered joints the fellow is our master. Cinthia take care to give him our best chamber.' 'He must have made a compact with the devil!' grumbled Tomaso, and with

pain forced his dislocated wrist back into its socket.

No one seemed inclined to hazard a second trial of strength. The night was far advanced, or rather the gray of morning already was visible over the sea. The banditti separated, and each retired sullenly to his chamber.

CHAPTER IV.

The Daggers.

ABELLINO, this Italian Hercules, all terrible as he appeared to be, was not long a member of this society, before his companions felt towards him sentiments of the most unbounded esteem. All loved, all valued him for his extraordinary talents for a bravo's trade, to which he seemed peculiarly adapted, not only his wonderful strength of body, but by the readiness of his wit, and his never-failling presence of mind. Even Cinthia was inclined to feel some little affection for him, but really was too ugly.

....

he

Matteo (as Abællino was soon given to understand) was the captain of this dangerous troop. He was one who carried villany to the highest pitch of resentment, incapable of fear, quick and crafty, and troubled with less conscience than a French financier. The booty and price

of blood, which his associates brought in daily, were always delivered up to him; he gave each man his share, and retained no larger portion to himself, than was allotted to the others. The catalogue of those, whom he had despatched into the other world, was already too long for him to have repeated it: many names had slipped his memory; but his greatest pleasure in his hours of relaxation was to relate such of these murderous anecdotes as he still remembered, in the benevolent intention of inspiring his hearers with a desire to follow his example. His wea pons were kept separate from the rest, and occupied a whole apartment. Here were to be found daggers of a thousand different fashions, with guards and without them; two-three-and four edged. Here were stored air-guns, pistols, and blunderbusses; poisons of various kinds and operating in various ways; garments fit for every possible disguise, whether to personate the Monk, the Jew, or the Mendicant, the Soldier, the Senator, or the Gondoleer.

One day he summoned Abællino to attend him in his armory.

'Mark me,' said he; thou wilt turn out a brave fellow, that I can see already.