Part 34 (2/2)
In her heart of hearts, Nina hoped that the strangers would be able to assist Ada in her flight, for though she felt herself attracted to the beautiful stranger, she was not the less anxious to get her safe out of the island
Nina accordingly rose to take her departure, observing that the storeers, and to send for her brother to aid her, as they were not likely to receive much assistance or commiseration from Vlacco
She looked attentively at Ada as she said this, and the expression of thankfulness which she saw on her countenance convinced her still ht in her conjectures
As soon as the shi+pwrecked seamen found themselves alone, the one who had hitherto appeared of the least importance, and had been seen to put on so dejected an air, on hearing that they were to be conducted into the presence of the chief's wife, was now evidently considered by the rest as their leader By a strenuous effort he aroused hie which was lish than Maltese, ”We must, while we can, examine the condition of the fortress in which we are confined; we may find it necessary to try and let ourselves out Except the door, there seeht co down from the further corner, and there o in, and see all about it,” exclailish, and in a fewon his companions to find their way to the foot of the steps, and to follow him into the chamber above
In a few minutes, the whole party were assembled in the apartment I have described as the pirate's chief store-room
”The enemies have chosen to put us in possession of the fortress, and have given us everythe arms and ammunition ”All we have to do, is to barricade the door below, and we e”
”And very little use that would be, when our object is to get away as fast as we can,” returned another ”However, we knohere to find a good supply of arms if ant them”
Meantime, their leader, and the one who had acted as interpreter, had gone together into the story above
”It is too true, then,” exclai as if he could scarcely restrain his grief ”This is evidently a lady's chamber, and furnished, too, with all the luxury and treasure the pirate would lavish on his wife Yet it cannot be hers I know her too well--gentle and affectionate as she is, she would die rather than subradation But what is this?” he took up a book, which lay on the table
It was one he had often seen in the hands of Ada Garden, and her nae Charles Fleetwood, for he it ho had come to rescue her he loved, as he discovered this fatal confirmation of his worst fears, covered his face with his hands, and groaned But he quickly recovered hiht is too horrible--too dreadful I wrong her to entertain it for an instant Yet, who can be this lady the old pirate spoke of? He said she would soon be here
Would to heaven she were coether in the lower story, when they heard the gate open, and, a feure appeared at the entrance
Captain Fleetwood's heart beat audibly, for, during the first ht not be Ada Garden; but the next, a gleaht, and to hiraceful and beautiful person; but a stranger In his satisfaction, he was very nearly forgetting hi forward to inquire for Ada She stopped to address the old pirate, who had opened the gate
”You have treated these poorthery tone
”Conduct them up to my room, and I will inquire whence they come, and how they happened to be cast on the shore Send, also, for Signor Paolo, for soood Vlacco, see that food be supplied to them, of the best the island affords, and let a chamber be prepared for them in the house, near to the room where my brother sleeps We will, at least, endeavour to be hospitable to the few strangers who are ever likely to visit our shores”
Nina ascended to her chamber, into which Vlacco directly afterwards ushered the Maltese seament to the reverence they made her, and then ordered Vlacco to retire, and to fulfil her directions
”Do any of you speak Italian?” she asked in that language
”_Si, signora_, I do,” said Fleetwood, stepping forward ”I aer, in the name of my comrades, to thank you for your interference in our favour; nor are we at all assured, that without it, our lives would have been safe, had we fallen into the hands of some of those islanders”
”As to that,” returned Nina, ”I cannot say They are rude ers But I alad to be of service to you, and will be of reatest you can render us, signora, will be to order so our mistico She is, fortunately, uninjured, and we e”
”They shall do so to-, by which ti and food to be prepared for you And tell me, can I, in any other way, serve you?”
Fleetwood felt a strong inclination to confide in her co Ada as the mistress of the tower; and now, he alht occurred to hi how he should frame some question to learn the truth, when his eye fell on the book, which he knew contained her name He took it up, and, as if by chance, his eye had now, for the first time, seen it, he pointed it out to Nina
”Lady,” he said, ”do you know the person to whos?”
”No,” returned Nina; ”I know no lady of that na, and fair, and beautiful, for, if so, I have just parted with her?”