We left Ada Garden virtually a prisoner on board a vessel which she
believed a Greek man-of-war. Day after day the voyage continued without
the anchor being dropped. Sometimes the vessel was steered in one
direction, sometimes in another; but, as she judged by the appearance of
the sun, as it was seen from the cabin windows at sunset, they were
verging towards the east and north. Fortunately the weather continued
fine, and they were able to have the ports open the whole of the day,
which in a slight degree made her amends for being deprived of the free
air of the deck. Generally, also, the wind was fair, when it came in
cool and refreshing through the ports; but some days it blew more ahead,
and then Ada could feel the vessel heel over as the canvas felt its
force; and, at times, she judged that they were beating along some
coast, or through a narrow passage, as the continuation of the same land
was seen on every alternate tack.
Signor Paolo had visited the cabin every day; but he was silent and
reserved as at first, and she failed to obtain any information from
him--though, latterly, she thought he appeared as if he would have
spoken more; but, each time he was about to do so, fear seemed to make
him hesitate, and he said nothing.
Her health, under his judicious treatment, had gradually improved till
she had recovered as much of her accustomed strength as she could expect
to do, without the benefit of more air and exercise than she could enjoy
in the cabin. But her spirits remained much depressed at the
uncertainty of her own future fate, of that of her uncle, and with the
thoughts of the anguish she knew Fleetwood would endure at her loss.
"Could I but let him know," she thought, "that I am alive, and am
suffering no great inconvenience, oh, how it would relieve my heart!"
She little thought that at that very time her lover was scouring the
seas on board his ship in search of her.
At last the vessel was once more before the wind, slowly gliding through
the water. There seemed to her more bustle and animation than usual on
deck. The faint sound of a gun came off from the shore--it was answered
by a loud report from on board, accompanied by a wild cheer from those
on deck; and, a short time afterwards she felt that the anchor was let
go; strange voices were heard alongside--and looking out of the
stern-ports, high cliffs arose before her eyes. She and Marianna
continued gazing out of their prison at the strange scent before them,
and at the number of boats filled with uncouth, savage-looking beings
pulling in boats round the ship. Among others, one appeared to leave
the vessel and take a direct course towards the shore.
"Oh! signora, look there--look there!" cried Marianna. "There is Signor
Paolo going to leave us."
Ada did look, but her eye scarcely rested on Paolo, for it caught sight
of one who sat next to him in the boat. She grasped her attendant's arm
as she whispered, "My worst fears are realised. There goes the pirate
Zappa, and we are his prisoners."
"Oh! don't say such a thing, signora," cried Marianna, trembling; "I
shall die of fright. Yet, surely he could not have had any command on
board such a quiet, well-ordered vessel as this has been?"
"I fear that I am not mistaken in his identity--and his appearance
explains everything," said Ada. "What can he intend now by leaving the
vessel? Try the doors and see if we are still prisoners in the cabin."
Marianna found the door closed as before, and she and her mistress sat
down more alarmed than they had been hitherto; Ada feeling that her last
hope of escape had vanished.
They remained thus for some time, till they were startled by the abrupt
entrance of Paolo into the cabin. He apologised, on seeing Ada's look
of surprise.
"Pardon me, signora; I have been sent by the captain of the ship to
express his regret that your apartments on shore are not arranged, and
to regret that you will have to remain some time longer on board."
"Excuses are superfluous, when no choice is allowed me but to obey,"
returned Ada, with more haughtiness in her manner than usual; for,
having seen Paolo in company with the pirate, she could no longer regard
him in the same light she had before done.
The young man seemed at once to observe and feel the change.
"I deeply regret, signora, that you should have cause to complain," he
exclaimed, in a voice in which sorrow mingled with passion; "but, oh!
believe me, that I am not more free than you, and act under the orders
of one who has the power to compel were I to prove disobedient."
"I believe you," said Ada; "and now tell me, who is this person who
ventures to hold me a prisoner?"
"You will know too soon, lady, but my lips must not inform you,"
returned Paolo. "However, if it can afford you any satisfaction to know
it, be assured that I will watch carefully over you, and that my
directions are, not to quit the vessel except to accompany you on
shore."
"It must be a satisfaction to those in distress to know that they have a
friend who interests himself in their welfare," replied Ada, in a
softened tone, as Paolo, with an inclination of his head, withdrew.
For two whole days did Ada Garden and her attendant remain inmates of
the vessel. On the third Paolo made his appearance to announce that
accommodation was prepared for them on shore, and that a boat was
waiting alongside the vessel to convey them there. For the first time
Ada stepped on the deck of the vessel, and, after having been shut up so
long below, the full, bright glare of the sun almost dazzled her eyes,
and prevented her seeing objects clearly. As she recovered her sight,
she observed that the vessel, on board which she had spent so long a
time, was a brig, that she was in beautiful order, and had eight guns
run out on either side. A few seamen in Greek costume were employed in
the fore part of the vessel in repairing the rigging, but none of them
took the slightest notice of her, as Paolo handed her to the gangway,
followed by Marianna. At his summons two men came aft, and brought up
her boxes from below, which were lowered into the boat alongside, into
which he then assisted her and her attendant. He then gave the signal
to shove off, and a few strokes of the oars carried the boat to the
shore. Ada looked round her with surprise at the wild beauty and
perfect tranquillity of the scene. In the centre of the bay lay the
brig at anchor, her hull and tall masts, and the tracery of her spars
and rigging reflected in the calm clear water. Her sails were closely
furled, and no one appeared above the bulwarks to show that she was
tenanted by human beings. The two misticoes lay inside of her, without
sign of any one being on board them, and the boats belonging to the cove
were drawn up on the beach, but the fishermen had deserted their nets,
and not a person appeared in any direction. She gazed up at the lofty
cliffs, and at the picturesque ravine towards which Paolo pointed, as
they landed, to indicate their path, at the same time expressing his
regret that there were no means of conveying her up it except by a
litter borne by men.
The perfect calmness of the whole scene, its unusual beauty, and the
freshness of the air served to reassure her, and she began to experience
an elasticity of spirits she had not for a long time felt. Paolo led
her up the path I have before described, to the platform on the summit
of the cliffs on which the ruined castle stood.
"This is a wild spot, lady, but not wanting in beauty; and the tower you
see before you is to be your abode while you remain on the island," said
Paolo, pointing to a tower which was nearer the causeway, and had not so
extensive a view as the one I have described, but yet it overlooked the
sea, and more of the interior of the island. Paolo knocked at a door at
the base, and it was opened by the young Greek girl Mila, who saluted
the strangers with a smile of welcome, and then led them away up a
flight of steps to an upper story, where, throwing open another door,
she ushered them into a chamber, at the appearance of which Ada could
not help uttering an exclamation of surprise; and Marianna, who had
completely lost all her fears in company with Signor Paolo, clapped her
hands with delight. The time had, indeed, been well employed, which
had, since their arrival, converted that ruined tower into so
magnificent an abode.
The pirate must have ransacked all his stores of silks and satins to fit
up the room.
"The roof has probably been formed some time, but all else has been
accomplished during the last three days," said Paolo, as they entered.
"That was the reason, lady, of your not landing before."
The style was very similar to that of the other tower; but the hangings
were, perhaps, richer, and the carpets more valuable; attention had been
paid to what might be supposed English taste. There were a greater
number of tables and chairs, and there was even a book-case fastened
against the wall, though the books it contained were few, and not of a
very select description.
There were two guitars and a music-book on one of the tables, and the
walls were adorned with pictures, and a magnificent silver lamp hung
from the centre; and, indeed, everything had been done to give the room
a cheerful and habitable appearance. On either side were curtains
across a corner of the room; and, on drawing them, Ada perceived that
there were couches arranged, and furnished with the finest linen,
showing that the chamber was intended for their exclusive residence,
perhaps also, their prison. Mila busied herself in showing the
arrangements of the room, and Paolo explained that she was anxious to
serve the stranger in the best way she could. Ada intimated that she
could not but be satisfied with the care taken for her comfort, and
Paolo, suspecting that she would prefer being left alone, called Mila,
and took his departure.
Paolo had been gone some time, when a knock at the door was heard, and
Marianna ran to open it. As she did so, she started back with a cry of
surprise, for there stood before her the pirate Zappa.
Ada rose as she saw him, for she felt that, from the first, it would be
necessary to assume a dignity and fearlessness of manner, in order to
gain any influence over him.
"The Prince Argiri Caramitzo, I believe I have the honour of seeing,"
she said, bowing.
"The same, signora, who has the happiness of welcoming you to Greece,
and has had that of rescuing you from a great danger," replied Zappa, in
his most courteous tone, advancing a step only into the chamber. "He
now comes to express a hope that you are satisfied with the arrangements
made for you, and will be contented to remain an inhabitant of this
island till communications can be opened with your friends, in order to
restore you to them."
"I need not tell you, prince, that I am most anxious to communicate with
my friends, and must beg you to tell me by what means I can do so," said
Ada.
"The opportunity will, doubtless, soon occur," replied the pirate.
"But, in the mean time, I have to assure you that I have taken measures
to let your friends know of your safety--though, for reasons which I may
hereafter explain to you, not the place of your abode."
"I understand you, signor; and I beg now to thank you for the courtesy
and delicacy with which you have treated me," said Ada. "And I will ask
you as a farther favour, to tell me what has become of the relative who
left Malta with me. Is he still living?"
As she spoke her voice trembled, and a tear started in her eye.
"Indeed, lady, I would gladly answer your question if I could. I know
nothing of your relative," replied Zappa. "But I am wearying you with
my presence. I came but to ascertain that you were satisfied with such
humble accommodation as I could afford you, and will no longer intrude
myself on your presence. Lady, farewell; and should any suspicions
enter your mind about me, I entreat you to banish them; and to believe
that, however much appearances are against me, I am not guilty."
It would be difficult to describe the tone with which those words were
uttered, or the polished bow Zappa gave as he quitted the room, fully
believing that he had made a great stride in winning over the feelings
of his prisoner, to look on him with regard.
A whole day passed away without the appearance of Paolo, or any person
except little Mila. The young Greek girl was her only attendant,
besides Marianna; but as she could not make herself understood, she
seldom remained long together in the room. Had she even not felt
herself a prisoner, the day would have passed wearily away with so few
means of amusing herself at her disposal. She examined the books which
had been placed on the shelves: they were mostly Italian, though she
recognised a few as having been on board the _Zodiac_. In vain,
however, she tried to give her attention to them, for whenever she did
so her thoughts wandered away till they were lost in the painful
reflection which her position naturally suggested. Among her luggage
were the means of employing herself in such fancy-work as was the
fashion in those days, but she soon threw it down in despair, as rather
increasing than relieving her anxiety.
Such was not the case with Marianna, who quickly recovered her spirits,
and plied her needle with her usual diligence, and laughed and sang, as
if nothing out of the way had occurred. One of her great sources of
pleasure was, in the intervals of her work, to look through a telescope
which Paolo had placed in the room; it was on a brass stand, and had
been, probably, among the cargo of some vessel plundered by Zappa or his
associates. The view, as I have said, from the window, extended over a
wide range of sea, along the greater part of the east side of the island
and into the interior; and a glimpse could just be caught of the mouth
of the harbour, though the vessels lying there were not visible. It was
in the afternoon of the second day after their arrival that Marianna was
amusing herself with looking through the glass, when she uttered an
exclamation of delight.
"Oh, signora, signora--do come, and look!" she cried. "There is a
vessel coming to the island; for I see her white sails just rising out
of the water. She is coming to take us home--I know she is."
Ada flew to the telescope--her heart beating with agitation at the very
mention of release, though her hopes were not so sanguine as those of
her damsel. She looked earnestly for some time at the sail which
Marianna had observed; but, as she withdrew her eye from the tube, she
shook her head with a look of disappointment.
"The sail looks very small," she said. "So I fear, Marianna, it cannot
be a ship of war, and no other can afford us assistance."
"Oh, but it is yet a long way off, signora," urged the Maltese girl.
"When it comes nearer it will appear much bigger, as I have often
observed from the windows of your uncle's house in Valetta a little sail
no bigger than a pocket-handkerchief, which has grown larger, and
larger, and larger, till it has become a mighty ship with a hundred
great guns looking out of her sides. Who knows but what this may turn
out a big ship sent out by the King of England, with Signor Fleetwood as
captain, to look after you? My heart tells me that she is a friend."
Ada smiled mournfully at her young attendant's over sanguine
prognostications, in which she could so little participate.
"I fear you are wrong in this case, my good Marianna," she answered.
"You observe that the vessel we see is small, but we can already
distinguish three distinct sails, and soon the hull itself will rise out
of the water, and then we shall be better able to judge of its proper
dimensions. I can already see her without the glass. Tell me if the
bulwarks are not in sight."
"Yes, signora, I can distinguish the dark mark of the body of the
vessel, and she seems to come on quickly towards us," answered the
Maltese girl, who was bending down upon a table drawn towards the
window, with her eye to the glass.
The vessel they were looking at was rather to the west of the island,
towards which she was standing close-hauled beating up against an
easterly wind, bound probably up the Dardanelles. The sea was calm, and
glittering in the sunbeams, which gave it the appearance of a plain of
molten silver sprinkled with diamonds--for to nothing else can I compare
its dazzling lustre. The breeze had been uncertain all the morning, now
so light as not to disturb the mirror-like surface of the sea, now
freshening up again so as to send the vessel along rapidly through the
water. It had, however, lately, in shore, given signs of dying away
altogether. The stranger stood on till she fetched up, almost looking
into the mouth of the concealed cove, either totally unconscious of the
danger of her proceeding, or indifferent to the consequences.
The latter could scarcely be the case; for, as Ada again looked at her
through the telescope, she observed that she was a vessel apparently of
little more than a hundred-and-twenty or thirty tons burden. Her rig
was that of a brigantine--the foremast having the top and spars of a
brig, the mainmast carrying fore-and-aft sails like a schooner. When
she had stood in within a quarter of a mile of the shore she tacked,
either fearing to get becalmed should she approach nearer, or being,
uncertain of the depth of water. If it was to avoid the former
inconvenience, it was too late, for, scarcely had she gone about than
her sails flapped idly against the masts, and she lay unable to make any
way at all.
Ada was now convinced that she was a stranger--a merchantman, probably,
as she judged by the cut of the sails, the short yards, and the few men
who appeared on her decks. She had two guns, it is true, but they were
of little weight of metal, and could have been of slight use in
repelling a really determined attack.
Ada trembled for her fate, when she recollected her suspicions of the
lawless character of the inhabitants of the island. As she was watching
the persons on the deck of the vessel, she saw that there was suddenly
some confusion among them; several persons hurried from below, and some
appeared to be surveying the mouth of the harbour with their telescopes.
The cause was soon apparent, for as she looked in that direction, a
long low dark object was seen to steal out from behind the rocks, like a
snake from the grass, and dart towards them.
It was one of the misticoes, with her yards and sails stowed along the
deck, and impelled by twenty long oars, pulled by twice that number of
men, while as many more stood in the after part, and at the bows, with
their matchlocks in their hands ready for use. In the bow, also, was a
long brass gun on a swivel, pointed towards the doomed vessel.
The stranger was, however, manned by no cowardly hearts. As soon as
they saw the nature of their enemy, they cast loose their two guns,
loaded them, and ran them both out on the port side, which was the one
then bearing on the shore. They knew that escape was impossible, and
that they had little hope of mercy, so they lost no time in firing, on
the chance of striking the enemy between wind and water, and compelling
him to return. Unhappily, neither shot told with much useful effect.
One struck the water just ahead of her, the other hit her gunnel and
killed two of the people, which only exasperated the others, and made
them pull the harder to get on board before receiving any other similar
visitors.
"Oh! Jesu Maria," exclaimed Marianna, hiding her eyes in her hands.
"What can be the reason that the vessel there should fire at the boat?"
"I am afraid we shall be witnesses of a dreadful scene," said Ada; "and
yet I cannot withdraw my eyes from it. Oh! what will become of the poor
people on board the vessel if those wretches in the mistico get near
her? See! they are my countrymen, too, for there flies the red ensign
of England."
The ensign had been hoisted as the brigantine fired; but while watching
the Greek vessel she had not observed it. The English, undaunted, set
up a loud cheer, as they again run out their guns; but the pirates,
taught by experience, pulled round under her stern, where her guns could
not reach them, and let fly their own long pieces at them. As they were
much lower than she was, the shot injured no one on deck; but flew
through the fore-topsail. They did not again attempt to fire; but
trusting to their vast superiority of numbers, they dashed boldly
alongside, with the object of carrying her by boarding. The English had
time to get one of their guns over to the starboard side, on which the
mistico boarded them, and to fire directly down into her, before the
pirates were able to leap up their side.
It was too late, however, to save them. The Greeks swarmed over the
bows and quarters, and up the side, their swords in their teeth, and
though the English seamen fought in a manner worthy of their name, Ada
saw, with anguish, that they were quickly cut down or overpowered,
pressed upon by overwhelming numbers, and in three minutes the islanders
had full possession of the vessel. It made her heart sick as she beheld
the catastrophe, which she had hoped against probability, might have
been averted. Intensely interested as she was to learn the fate of her
countrymen, her agitation prevented her from seeing more, and obliged
her to withdraw her eyes from the painful sight. Marianna, however,
took her place at the telescope.
"Oh, signora!" she exclaimed, "the saints protect us! But those cruel
wretches are throwing the bodies of the poor English they have murdered
overboard, before even their hearts can have ceased to throb. Wicked
villains! I hope they won't treat the living in the same way."
"I'm afraid none remained alive," said Ada, shuddering. "But what are
they doing now?"
"They seem engaged in making their own vessel fast to the other, to
prevent her from sinking, I suppose. I wish they may both go down to
the bottom together. It would serve the wretches right."
"God will punish them in His own good time, or the power of civilised
nations will be exerted to perform His will," replied Ada. "Our
religion teaches us, remember, not to wish evil even to our worst
enemies. But, ah, there comes out the other mistico to the assistance
of their friends."
In a short time the last-named vessel had reached the brigantine, and as
soon as she was lashed alongside, all hands were busily engaged in
transferring the cargo to their own craft, for they had managed to stop
the shot-hole in the side of the one which had been engaged. The
brigantine's anchor had been dropped, and her sails clewed up; and as
soon as the two misticoes were laden, they returned to the harbour. In
another hour or so, they were again alongside the prize, and engaged in
their work of plunder. They laboured hard till they had transferred
everything of value from her hold, and they then commenced stripping her
masts of the sails and rigging; and in collecting other things from her
deck and cabin which might be useful--not forgetting her guns, and her
small store of powder and shot. By the time they had completed their
work the sun had set, and loaded with plunder they returned to port. As
they left the side of the unfortunate vessel, a shout of exultation
escaped them; and soon after, Ada perceived through the gloom a thick
smoke ascending from the hatchways, followed quickly by forked flames,
which leaped upwards, and rapidly enveloped the masts and lower,
rigging. The whole hull was rapidly in a blaze, which lighted up with a
lurid glare the two misticoes; the grim visages of their fierce crew,
their red caps, and varied-coloured costume being clearly visible at
that distance through the telescope. The fiery tinge falling also on
the rocky cliffs, and the towers and walls of the castle, and converting
the tranquil surface of the ocean into, seemingly, a sea of blood.
The brigantine burned fiercely--there must have been some inflammable
substance which had formed part of her cargo remaining in her hold.
From the two small stern-ports, which had been left open, the flames
burst forth in jets of fire, as also from every hatchway, fore and aft,
till the decks fell in, and the masts, like two pillars of fire, came
rushing down, and hissing into the water. At length the empty hull sunk
beneath the surface, and all was again dark.
"I fear, signora, we are in a complete nest of pirates," said Marianna,
breaking the silence which she had maintained after the catastrophe.
"I fear so, too," replied Ada; "but that burning vessel may prove a
beacon to light our friends to our rescue."