Part 38 (2/2)

”Tell your captain, Mr Raby, that I will be prepared,” whispered Ada, looking away fro ”Tell him, that I have no fear for myself; but do try and caution him to be careful of hienerous zeal in my service, and to entreat you to be cautious”

”Oh, as for me, Miss Garden, I like the fun of the business,” replied the , too, to serve the captain; and as for him, he's never rash, and you ladly risk ten tierrun to serve you So now I ain, to tell my companions that I have found my sister There, Miss Marianna, I think I've kissed you as much as the ive you a few ht-hearted youth down the hill, and, getting back to his co out to the, with aniht at the discovery

”It's all right, sir,” he whispered to his captain; ”Miss Garden isn't a bit afraid, and will have a line ready to haul up a rope to her , if she cannot get out any other way What shall I do now, sir?”

”Go back to your sister and try and learn where the chief pirate has been, and gain any other information which may be useful,” replied Fleetwood ”Perhaps you will be allowed to reether with her, and if you can, do so; for you will be of the greatest service in assisting Miss Garden to escape from the tower”

”With all ive Miss Smaitch any more kisses? It seems to please her,” said the midshi+p off

”Perfectly unnecessary, I should think,” replied Fleetwood, al held the same irresponsible rank himself, he could fully appreciate ”You may overact your part”

”No fear, sir--I'll be decorous in the extreht; I'll get shut up in Miss Garden's tower, if I possibly can”

He did not wait for further directions, but scra, who, supposing that she was to receive him as before, threw her arms round his neck and paid him off in his own coin

Nina, whether she believed in the relationshi+p or not, took good care to explain to the bystanders that the Maltese attendant had found a brother a the shi+pwrecked crew of the mistico, and it all seemed so natural, that no one doubted the stateenerally so wide awake that, in his own opinion, no one could take him in, was completely deceived, and threw no difficulties in the way of Jack Raby's acco Ada to the tohen Nina requested that the brother and sister e, he looked er than he really was, and the old pirate, considering hiht he could do no harm, at all events; and should it be necessary to cut the throats of the rest of the party, to ensure their not escaping, it lish lady This circue to Ada, as the lively conversation of the youngcould daers of the attempt about to be made to rescue her; and she was also able to learn from him many of the events hich the reader is acquainted but of which she had hitherto, of course, re took place, the _Zoe_ was drawing rapidly in with the land The breeze was fair to carry her close to the harbour'ssufficient way on her, down calided up to her well-known anchorage She was instantly surrounded with boats full of people, anxious to knohat adventures she hadher brief cruise, and how she had weathered the storm the previous day They soon came back, and it was speedily noised abroad that some event of importance had occurred, and much bustle and discussion took place in consequence Tounded es, or rather huts, and nor Paolo, to bring hi the crowd on the shores of the bay

Zappa himself was next seen to step into his boat, when the an to play their most lively airs, the dancers to dance their best, and those who had fireare them in his honour; the sharp report, for they were all loaded with ball, echoing from cliff to cliff around the bay He stepped on shore with a brow less calm and a smile less sweet than usual, and returned the salutations of his followers in a manner less courteous than his wont, as he hurried on towards the entrance of the ravine leading up to his abode He stopped short on his way, for his eye fell on Nina and Ada standing close together, and talking like two friends long acquainted He was much puzzled He had only been absent two days, and he was not aware that either of theer i to his present policy, to keep the did not matter; and he little kne soon similarity of misfortune makes brothers and sisters of us all He looked up, and made a bow to them as he passed; but he paid the Vlacco's arm, he led him up the ravine

Poor Nina's heart sank within her It was the first tilect and indifference Ada Garden saw also that so: she had observed the tounded ry brow of the pirate; so she came to the conclusion that he had been defeated in some skir the island to be attacked by the Turks, as had been the case with others, when most of the population had been put to the sword She mentioned her fears to Jack Raby

”I don't think it's anything very bad, for the young pirates and piratesses are still dancing away as merrily as before,” he answered

”But I'll soon know all about it”

And oncea feords with them, ran back to Marianna

”It's a war to be alarmed about, Miss Garden,” he said, as soon as he had recovered his breath ”The Greek officer, who is with us, hears froo on board an English brig-of-war-- that he was pursued by her boats, and very nearly captured I wish to goodness he had been--but nothing more is known on the subject There is no doubt he has visited the _Ione_, and I only hope he has got no inkling of what she is there for, and e are about If he has, you see, why that is only a still greater reason for not letting the grass grow under our feet”

The news brought by the midshi+pman of course alarmed Ada very much, as she saw all the dreadful consequences which would too probably ensue, should Zappa discover who he had in his power He had the reputation of being treacherous, vindictive, and cruel; and he was not likely to grow uise, for the purpose, he would naturally suspect, not only of rescuing her, but of observing his means of defence, in order afterwards to attack hiroeary, and the elders had begun to retire to their holadly acceded to Nina's wish to turn their steps up the ravine

They parted at the foot of Nina's tower; and, as Ada bade her new friend farewell--as she believed, for the last time--her heart bled for her unhappy position and too probable fate Ada hurried to her tower, followed by Jack Raby and Marianna, fearful ofwith the pirate, lest he should stop to question the young midshi+pman; but, luckily, he did not appear; and as soon as they reached her chaht

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE