Part 55 (1/2)
As the unhappy girl said this she clung to hi to draw him to the centre of the raft
Ada had been afraid of leaving her seat, for she saw the risk to which all were exposed by the struggle, and that the weight of another person thrown on the spot itation was scarcely inferior to that exhibited by Nina
”Stay, stay, signor,” she exclaimed--”before you commit the impious deed you threaten, listen to me You would seek a certain death, and certain punish it at the hands of my countrymen in this--now listen to me I have already promised Nina to intercede in your behalf, and I now solemnly vow to you to employ every means in my power to preserve your life, and I feel almost certain of success A petition made by me under the circumstances of the case will, I am confident, be attended to, and you may yet enjoy many years of happiness with one who is so well able to afford it you”
”Lady,” said Zappa, ”again you have conquered me Unworthy as I am to live, I accept life at your hands, and confide in your pro tells me it will avail me but little Nina, you need not thus so fearfully clasp irl”
As he said this, he allowed himself to be led forward by Nina, and sat himself down on a chest, where he remained for some minutes with his face buried in his hands, and bent down on his knees Paolo steered as he had been directed, and as the raft had for some time passed all the rocks and shoals to be feared, the task was not difficult Ada, ; but the wind, she thought, was lighter than it had been, for the distance between them did not appear to decrease so rapidly as at first, and as she looked alternately froht that there wasit before they were overtaken The pirate seemed indifferent to his fate, but he was once uided by what they said, he turned his eyes towards the shore, whence, fro, the long low hull of aforth, with her pointed lateen sails hauled close on a wind
”The _Zoe_, the _Zoe_,” shouted the pirates ”Our comrades come to our assistance”
There could be little doubt that the ht was the _Zoe_
”But is she ht Zappa, whose suspicions were keenly alive to treachery ”If she were, would she thus venture out in the very face of an enemy?” The men, however, seemed convinced that she can of joy
Though so near them, she had to make several tacks before she could reach the before the wind, ca within range of her guns Zappa watched them both The mistico was manned by Greeks, for their picturesque costuuishable, but he was not certain that they were friends; and far rather would he have fallen into the hands of the English, than into the power of his own countrymen
Should he continue his course, and should they prove enenised would probably be his last, and those with him would be sacrificed; but, on the other hand, if he lowered the sail and atteht lose the chance of saving hi to trust to the clemency of the British authorities, whom he had so often, by hishis course by seeing the et out her sweeps, and from the point where she then was, she could lay almost up for them In a short tinised on board, and greetings, loud and frequent, were exchanged between them A universal cry of sorroas uttered as the loss of their favourite _Sea Haas announced, though their chief ar those saved, and notheside theto the approaching brig, urged their friends to instant flight, but Zappa still re Ada, ”I leave you here, whence you will speedily be rescued by your own countryirl; you will, I feel assured, see her safely restored to her country and her ho my eneet the dangers we have passed”
”Listen, Nina,” said Ada ”You cannot serve hi him, while with me you will speedily, I trust, be in safety”
”What, leave hier and in difficulty!” she exclai as to do that Farewell, sweet lady
You have loaded ratitude I cannot hope to repay”
She stooped as she spoke, and kissed Ada's brow, then sprang back towards Zappa, as stepping on board the ood cause, for at thatround the east end of the island
Nina was in time to clasp the pirate's arm
”Oh, take me with you!” she cried ”Your lot I will share, your fate shall bethe stay of the mast, leaped with her on board Paolo stood irresolute a moment He looked at Ada, she turned her face fro the pirates He recollected his devoted love for her, and the sacrifice she had already made, besides which he felt the hopelessness of his passion, and just as the raft was being cast off, he followed her on board the mistico
The next moment Ada Garden found herself the only occupant of the raft, drifting on the face of the water
CHAPTER FORTY
The _Ione_ had in vain chased the _Sea Hawk_ She had examined every island in her course, and searched in every bay and nook, and behind every rock and headland, but the pirate still evaded her, till captain, officers, and men were almost worn out with their labours Fleetwood, it may be supposed, did not save himself, and it could scarcely be expected that he should allow his officers to do so; in truth, however, every er in the pursuit as he was, and fatiguing as it was, never was any duty perforh, as they could relieve each other, they were not so ht and day he was on deck, and it ith difficulty he could be persuaded to take any food or rest, expecting, as he did, that the next few hours would place the _Sea Hawk_ in his power
Thus day after day passed away Soht, and they stood after her in chase, but only to colish trader to the Bosphorus, or Greek man-of-war, of perhaps little less doubtful character than the _Sea Hawk_ herself The inhabitants of the islands either knew nothing about her, or would give no information, nor could any clue be obtained from any craft they fell in with; so at last Captain Fleetwood resolved to return south again, keeping close along by the Greek coast, to exaroup of islands and islets of which I have spoken
The wind had been light all night, and the _Ione_ hadup from the northward, and she hauled in a little to fetch the eastern which she was about to cruise A Greek pilot had been taken on board on the _Zone's_ first entering the Archipelago He was a clever old fellow, and he undertook to carry the shi+p in safety through all the dangers hich she would be surrounded Zappa had once plundered a shi+p of which he had charge, and he was doubly anxious to get hold of him All the officers were on deck with telescopes in hand, sweeping the horizon, while the captain, as was his custolass to take a wider sweep, and to assure himself, with his own eyes, whether any sail was or was not in sight
”Poor fellow,” said Linton, ”I ah it He is worn al hi dreadful have occurred, I am afraid it will kill him when he hears of it”