I

VISH ! It 1s the wind, lct loose. | Swash ! It 1s the rain, fall- g in torrents, This shricking squall

bends down the trees of the

Volsinian coast, and huwrrics on, flinging

itsclf against the sides of the mountains of

Crimma. Along the whole length of the littoral arc high rocks, by the billows of the vast Sca of \IUHl]OL]l(]l

Swish | swash !

Down by the harbour nestles the little town of Luktrop’; perhaps a hundred houses, with green palings, which defend them indifferently from the wild wind; fouror five hilly streets—ravines rather than streets—paved with pebbles and strewn with ashes thrown from the active cones in the background. The volcano is not far distant ; it is called the Vauglor. During the day it sends forth sulphurous vapours ; at night, from timc to time, great outpour- ings of flame. Tikce a lighthouse carrying a hundred and fifty kertzes, the Vauglor indicates the port of Luktrop to the coasters, felzans, verlichces, and balanzes, whose keels furrow the waters of Mcegalo- crida.

On the other side of the town are

ruitms

By Jurrs ViERyE

dating from the Crimmarian cra. Then a suburb, Arab in appearance, much like a casbah, with white walls, domed roofs, and sun-scorched terraces, which arc all nothing but accumulations of squarc stones thrown together at random. Veritable dice arc these, whose numbers will never be effaced by the rust of Time.

Among others we notice the Six-four, a name given to a curious crection, having sIX openings on cne side and four on the other.

A beliry overlooks the town, the square pelfry of Saint Philfilena, with bells hung in the thickness of the walls, which some- times a hurricance will sct in motion. That 5oa bad sign; the people tremble when they hear 1t

Such 15 Luktrop. Then come the scattered habitations in the country, set amid heath and broom, as in Brittany. But this is not Brittany. Is it in France? [ do not know. Isitin Europe? T cannot tell. At all events, do not look for Luktrop on any map.

IT. RaTt-rar! A disereet knock 1s struck upon the narrow door of Six-four, at the left corner of the Ruce Messaglicre. This is onc of the most comioriable “houses in 1. uktrop —il such a word is known there—one of

the richest, 1f gaining some millions of

• Published by srecial permission of Messrs. J.

[letzel et Cie. All rights reserved.