Part 29 (2/2)
”I had brought a considerable sum of money with ency, and with it I bribed two e on the opposite side of the bay, to prepare a boat, in which, with their aid, I hoped to reach either the et on board some vessel which would convey us to so Italy I waited for an occasion when Zappa should have gone on one of the piratical expeditions he was in the habit of taking, and when, according to custom, he would have compelled n illness, and, as soon as I saw the preparations erous sickness He expressed great regret, and so convinced arded me with affection, that I felt soh I knew him to be, with a thousand crimes
He even delayed his departure, and I saould be necessary to pretend to recover to get hiht at last came, in which the enterprise was to be attempted I left my roooing down to the bay, I found the boat and the men in readiness I then returned towith alar the man whom she so fatally loved, we safely reached the boat We were not observed, for no one suspected us, and we launched forth into the deep
I had arranged for an ample supply of provisions, and I had previously carried down thevoyage For three days we steered to the west and south, with the sea cal only small islands, where the men assured me we should have no chance of assistance By this calculation, it would take us two days more before we could reach thebroke, I discerned a vessel standing towards us As she drew nearer, my horror, as well as that of the islanders, may be supposed, when they pronounced her to be Zappa's own brig, the _Sea Hawk_ It was hopeless to expect to escape her by outstripping her in sailing; so, ered the sail on the chance of our re unobserved, while Nina and I crouched down in the bottom of the boat, in order that, if the pirate vessel should pass at soht beislands All our care was futile On so se as we presented reat distance, and we had not escaped the vigilant eyes of the pirates
On came the vessel Nina was bathed in tears; the Greeks trembled, for they knew their lives were at stake I nerved e of Zappa h I feared for my sister more than for nised, and the _Sea Hawk_ ran up close to us The side, and we all soon stood on the deck of the brig
”'Such, then, is the love you bear me, that the first moment ofreproachfully at Nina, without taking any notice of me and my companions 'I believed, I felt sure, that you loved me, but now I know that I was bitterly mocked'
”'Oh, no, no!' exclai and abashed before him, 'I loved you better than life itself I love you now, and no hu to you Do with uish than now it suffers by believing that I do not love you My duty to a dying parent would alone have prompted me to take the step I have done'
”'I believe you, Nina,' said Zappa, taking her in his arms 'I will not part with you As to you, Paolo, you have deceived ated your sister to leavethus in future'
”Saying this, he carried my sister below, and placed her in his cabin; he then returned on deck, and walked up to where the two Greeks were standing, awaiting their sentence I had never before seen his fiercer passions aroused
”'You knohat you have to expect,' he exclaimed, in a voice of thunder 'You have broken the laws of our community You would have deprived ard in the world, and purposed--nay, deny it not--for I know your vile natures, to have old still in their possession Take, therefore, the consequences'
”As he uttered these words he dreo pistols fro them at the heads of the ht the direction of his hands; but it was too late Ere they could spring back, he fired, and they fell dead at his feet
”'Cast the bodies overboard, and let their boat go adrift We will keep noto me, he observed, 'You see, Paolo, hoe treat traitors; and let me tell you, you have had a narrow escape; and your sweet sister--I tremble to think what her fate would have been Had I not fortunately found you, you would not have been allowed to live another day, and let this be a lesson to you for the future'
”Two days afterwards we reached the island, and Zappa quieted ain infor our father's health He did so, and the reply was, that he was dead I remained still subservient to the pirate I would not desert h the fetters the pirate had thrown aroundhireat assistance to his ery; and I aate the fate of those who fall into his power Had I the will also, nora, you will be able to account for my appearance on board the speronara, and afterwards in the _Sea Hawk_ Such, lady, is the outline of my unhappy history--”
”And one on which it would have been wiser for you to have held silence!” exclai up, he and Ada beheld the tall for in the doorway He advanced into the roo a low reverence towards her, at the same time that he stretched out his hand in the direction Paolo was standing ”Go, foolish youth!” he exclaier ”You will so Italian stood for an instant irresolute--his bosonation, and his lips parted, as if he would have defied his tyrant; he felt, too, that he was in the presence of the woman for whom he had declared his love, and all the more manly qualities of his nature rose up to his aid; but he had been too long accustoained over hi eye fixed on hi character, too similar to that of his unfortunate sister, made hiony, of shame, and humiliation on his countenance, he turned and fled down the steps
Ada at once felt the inity She rose, and as calmly as she could conor, to what cause I am indebted for this visit?”
”Beautiful lady!” said the pirate, still standing at a distance, which would have showed respect had his words been different, ”can you suppose it possible that I should always resist the influence of your attractions Am I to be the only one in this island who is to be debarred the happiness of basking in your smiles? Is yon weak youth ever to be preferred to nor,” said Ada, her heart at the sa with a fear she had hitherto happily not yet experienced ”Does not every ht of thus addressing one so totally unprotected, so helpless as I aentleman who has just quitted the roo than profound pity for his ard to yourself, how can you expect e to which you have subjected me
Every day that I a; and my only request is, that I may not be insulted by the presence of one who has been the cause of the nity, a coh-minded, resolute woman, which will abash even the boldest and most unscrupulous ainst the attacks of the profligate It is like the steadfast gaze of a dauntlesseven the fiercest of the beasts of the forest; but let her beware how for an instant she withdraws it, how she allows the softer feelings of her woman's nature to shake her firmness; her opponent is ever watchful, and should she allow the faintest gleam of hope to enter his bosonity of her nature, stood Ada Garden
The blood-stained, reckless pirate advanced not a step nearer; he stood abashed and confused, nor gave utterance to a word of remonstrance at her resolution He seeht it was to command--his duty to obey He hesitated as he spoke
”Pardon nora, I caard and estees--may create a tenderer sentiment in your heart than you are now disposed to entertain I a a point on which I have once determined; I must be content, however, to look forward to the future, while I subnora, I acknowledge myself conquered; but another tiain the victory”
Ada endeavoured to maintain her composure, but the tone assumed by Zappa alarmed her more than he was probably aware of Silence she felt was now her best safeguard She placed her hands before her eyes to shut out his hateful sight, while she endeavoured to nerve herself for what ht next occur
The Greek, however, it appeared, had no wish to proceed to extremities
Perhaps he really felt affection for her; perhaps he calculated on receiving a handsome ransom for her Whatever was his motive, he determined to persecute her no more for the present, and he took the opportunity to quit the chamber
When she removed her hands fro the steps of the tower, and when she had ascertained that he had to a certainty left it, she knelt down, and her deep sobs told of her outraged feelings, and the anguish of her heart She was aroused by the return of Marianna, who proain to be tempted to leave her