Part 41 (1/2)

whispered his captain ”We shall still keep under the shadow of the cliffs for a short distance, to avoid the risk of being seen from the eastern towers That will do, steady

”Keep up your courage,his eyes to her countenance, froer than was necessary to watch for their safety

”Weevery chance of escape In less than half an hour we shall fall in with the _Ione's_ boats, and then we may defy the whole nest of pirates to stop us”

”I shall have no further fear e have lost sight of that dreadful vessel, which looks even now like so monster about to awake and rush after us,” she answered, pointing to the _Sea Hahich lay still open inside the harbour's mouth

She had scarcely uttered these words when a loud shout was heard, which seemed to proceed froed at theuished

”We are discovered,” exclaimed the Greek captain ”Pull, pull, as hard as we can, the watch on deck is calling on us to come into the harbour

He has evidently just woke up, and is yet uncertain e are, though he suspects us He threatens to fire the guns at us if we do not obey hih we escape the shot, of waking up the rascals in all quarters, and we shall have a whole fleet of boats after us: stay, I will hail in return, and pretend we are fishermen”

On this he stood boldly up in the boat, and cried out in Romaic, at the top of his voice--

”What fool is that on board the _Sea Haho has been sleeping on his watch these four hours past, and now et up early in theto follow their avocations?

We should have little fish to eat if ere to trust to you for the supply”

”Who is it?” exclaimed the same voice ”Is it you, Balbo?”

”Yes, yes,” answered Captain Vassilato; ”I should have thought you would have known my voice”

”Who is it?” hailed another person, apparently on shore

”Gerasimo Listi,” answered the watch on the _Sea Hawk's_ deck

”No, no, the old fellow lies drunk at home!” exclaimed the second speaker ”Treachery, treachery They are the spies endeavouring to escape”

”It is hopeless to deceive them,” said Captain Vassilato, when he heard these words, which he translated to his companions as he resuood start, and it may be some time before any boats' crews can be collected to pursue us”

It is needless to say hat energy all hands bent to their oars-- concealment was of no further use, and they were able to put their whole strength into their strokes There was no ti with her broadside across the mouth of the harbour, and as soon as those on her deck could procure ed them in quick succession; and Ada could scarcely restrain a shriek of terror as she saw their bright flashes lighting up theof the vessel noith people--and heard their loud report echoing a noise of the shot as they ca by-- some over their heads, soh the pirates' aim was very uncertain, yet, as from the narrow entrance of the bay, the only shot which could reach theo far distant from them One or two, apparently, from the peculiar noise they made, hit the cliffs, and rebounded back into the bay Marianna, whose fears had completely overcome her, crouched down at the bottoht she should be more secure; and Fleetwood entreated Ada in that respect to follow her exa Jack Raby to place her as lon as possible, where a shot was less likely to strike the boat Though she was unwilling to be er than he was, yet she saw that her so doing would relieve him from some of his fear for her safety, and she co on some jackets and cloaks which Jack Raby spread out for her, she saw nosoon ceasing told her that they had shut in the brig by the western cliffs

”Remain where you are, dearest,” said Fleetwood, as she was about to rise ”We may still have some shot sent after us, when the boats, which will probably pursue us, get outside; and though, with the start we have, they are not likely to take good aim, a fatal one may come on board; and think, Ada, of how little use would be the risk we have run, if you were to be the victim But do not be alarmed; no enemy has yet approached”

I do not know if I have explained clearly the position of the boat: she was at this tihth of a mile from the lofty cliffs which foroing at the rate of between four and five knots an hour, which was the utmost speed hich, with all their exertions, they could urge her through the water The cleft in the rock, as now the entrance of the harbour appeared to be, was seen over their starboard quarter, and in that direction their eyes were anxiously turned for the appearance of the boats they fully expected would follow theer also appeared fro the suht blue sky, they could discern so in doubt as to their intentions The persons halted, and the bright barrels of their guns gleaht them to their shoulders and fired Several balls flew by theh, fortunately, no other da out their threats of vengeance, and firing away, apparently to inti the character of the people hom they had to deal

Here, of course, Ada was exposed to as h Fleetould have joyfully interposed his own person to preserve her, it was impossible for him to do so, and all he could do was to entreat her to remain down as much as possible under the seat, and to redouble his efforts at the oar

”We shall soon be beyond the range of those fellows' guns!” he exclai out froood start of her, however Give way, gentle chase, and find her a warm reception at the end of it, I hope”

”She's not alone, though!” exclaiht was remarkably keen ”There's another close astern of her, and, by heaven, there's another just rounding the point We shall have enough of them to look after us, at all events”

”Itone,”

said Captain Fleetwood, in a cheerful tone, not ashis rude co up Ada's spirits ”I don't think any of them are likely to pull much faster than we do”

These remarks were made slowly and at intervals, and perhaps even feords were really used, as any one who has pulled a heavy oar, for life and death, will know the utter i on an unbroken conversation, as I have written it down