Captain Fleetwood and his companions had carefully kept out of the way
of Zappa when they saw him land, lest, by any unfortunate chance, he
should recognise them; and, when they heard of the expedition on which
he had been engaged, they had reason to rejoice that they had taken this
precaution. As soon as the islanders had returned to their homes to
feast and make merry, and to indulge in the juice of the grape--which,
on such occasions, is the great resource of the men, as it was in the
days of their ancestors--they set themselves down on the rocks to
consult as to their future proceedings, taking care that no eavesdropper
was within hearing to discover that they were not talking Maltese. They
were well aware that the risk they ran was much increased by the
pirate's knowledge that the _Ione_ was in the vicinity--for it was
natural he should suspect that she was there with some design against
him, even though he might not have gained any information respecting
their expedition. They hesitated, therefore, about returning to the
castle; and the Greek, Captain Vassilato, gave it as his opinion, that
it would be more prudent to seek for food in the village, and to pretend
to be anxious to procure lodgings for the night; that instead, however,
of entering any house, they should, as soon as the inhabitants were
retiring to rest, slip out and return to the bay; and that, while they
were engaged in getting the boat ready, Captain Fleetwood should go up
to the tower and bring down Miss Garden.
"We could not have selected a better night for our attempt," he
observed; "for, fortunately for us, the greater portion, if not the
whole, of the male population will be drunk, and are not likely to
interfere with us. Had it not been for this, we might have found much
difficulty in getting away unperceived out of the bay."
"What is your opinion, Mr Bowse?" said Fleetwood.
"I am inclined to agree with Captain Vassilato," answered Bowse, "who
seems to know the habits of the people, unless you have any reason to
offer against it."
"I should prefer facing the lion in his den; or, hearing that there are
strangers in the island, he may suspect, and send for us, if we avoid
him. Besides, I fear we may have difficulty in enabling Miss Garden to
escape from the tower; and I should wish to visit the mistico to procure
a rope and block to lower her, if necessary, from the window. The bay
is not more than two miles from the tower, and it will excite less
suspicion if we are seen going there, as if with the intention of
sleeping on board the mistico; and the old pirate knows, perfectly well,
that we cannot get her off without his assistance. I propose that we
remain on board the mistico till an hour before midnight, and while you
go on to prepare the boat, I will remain to assist Miss Garden in
escaping from the tower, and we will then follow directly after you."
"Well, sir, I think your plan is the safest and best, because we shall
then be independent of everybody," said Bowse. "It will be somewhat
more fatiguing, perhaps, for it will give us a long walk over very rough
ground; but that is not a matter to be thought of with the object we
have in view. But, by Heavens, sir! here comes that rascally old
pirate, and I should not be surprised if his object is to tell us that
we must all go and be locked up again, as we were yesterday night, and
then we are regularly done for, I fear."
As Bowse spoke, old Vlacco was seen at the mouth of the ravine, at
least, as well as they could distinguish in the dark, whence he began
descending the rocks to the sands.
"I trust that, even if we are locked up, everything is not lost," said
Fleetwood. "At all events, he is coming towards us, and it is our best
policy to exhibit no unwillingness to accompany him if he desires it."
The others agreed that such was certainly their only resource; and
directly afterwards old Vlacco came up to them.
"I have been directed by our chief to desire the presence of you
Maltese, forthwith, at the castle. He wishes to examine you as to
certain things, about which you can give him information, and if you
satisfy him, he will probably allow you to depart hence to-morrow. Tell
this to your comrades," he said, looking at Captain Vassilato, who
forthwith translated it into English, carefully making the words sound
as much like Maltese as possible.
"We will gladly give him any information in our power," returned the
Greek captain. "We were contemplating paying our respects to him; and
if you lead on, we will follow you."
"Humph," muttered Vlacco, as he began to climb the ravine, "the fellow
gives a ready answer, and I suspect we have got the wrong sow by the
ear." Or at least he made use of an equally elegant expression
answering to the above in the Romaic.
"We must adhere firmly to our story," said Captain Vassilato, as they
followed the pirate. "But I wonder whether, among his other
accomplishments, our friend Zappa understands Maltese; if so, you,
Pietro, must act as spokesman, and remember, the more dull and stupid
you appear, the better. If, however, we find he does not, I must
continue to play the interpreter. It will be dangerous, however, to
speak English in his presence, for depend upon it he knows the sound of
the language too well to be deceived."
"Your caution is very important," observed Fleetwood. "Mr Bowse and I
will keep in the back ground, and be silent; and do you, Pietro, put
yourself forward, and answer all questions put to us, if he speaks your
native tongue; but if he talks Greek, Captain Vassilato will do so."
It would be absurd to say that the whole party did not feel the full
danger of their position; but they were brave men, and had strung up
their nerves to encounter whatever might happen; the expected interview
they saw would prove as critical as any part of their adventure, and
they were accordingly proportionately anxious for the result. It was,
fortunately, perfectly dark by the time they reached the summit of the
cliff, and old Vlacco led them to the building they had inhabited on the
previous night.
"There, go in, and I will inform our chief that you are come," he said,
pointing to their room. "In the mean time, some supper, I suppose,
won't come amiss; and if he should not wish to see you this evening, the
eating it will do to pass the time till you go to sleep."
They were agreeably surprised to see little Mila and an old woman, who
had before attended on them, enter with a supply of provisions, to which
they did as much justice as they were able, and while they were
discussing them, Vlacco returned.
"Well, I told our chief that I believed you were as honest as most men,
and I don't think he'll trouble himself about you till to-morrow," he
observed, as he sat down at the table, and helped himself to a cup of
wine. "Let me tell you, if you were the rogues he first thought you
might be, he would have sent every one of you flying over the cliffs,
without the slightest ceremony."
The old pirate seemed in a facetious mood, and laughed, and drank, and
talked, in a way very different to what appeared to be his usual habit;
but it struck his guests that it was assumed to throw them off their
guard, and that he was eyeing them all the time, much in the way that a
hungry cat does a trapful of mice, which she knows will shortly be
thrown to her to torment. After some time, he took his departure, and
they heard him lock and bolt the doors behind him. There they were,
then, once more prisoners, at the very moment it was all important to
them to be free.
Fleetwood at first was in hopes that the Signora Nina might come to
liberate them; but he then recollected that, her lord being returned,
she would scarcely be able to escape from the tower without being
observed; and felt that they must depend on their own exertions to free
themselves. To open the door was out of the question, so they commenced
operations by examining the window. A small lamp had been left there,
which they had not on the previous night, and Pietro observed that Mila
had placed it on the table, at the moment her grandfather's back had
been turned to quit the room, and he suspected that she had done so by
the direction of the Italian lady.
The window was a mere aperture in the highest part of the building; but
it was secured with strong iron bars, so firmly fixed in the wall, that
they soon found it would be impossible to remove them without files or
tools to work with. They next tried the roof. On examination, they saw
that it was very rudely put together, and that a great part of it was
formed simply of the rough planks torn from the sides of a vessel--
probably some unfortunate craft cast on their shore, or brought there as
a prize. This they judged would be easily removed, if they could raise
a scaffolding to work from.
"Before we do anything, let us put a screen before the window, lest any
one from without should observe our proceedings," said Fleetwood, who
was the chief suggester of what should be done, though his companions
were not behind-hand in conceiving as well as executing the details of
their plan.
They waited for upwards of an hour, till they hoped old Vlacco would be
fast asleep; occupying themselves meantime in cutting up a small wooden
bench into wedges and levers, to rip open the boards. They then hung a
cloak across the window, and placed the table against the wall which
they calculated formed the outer side of the building. On it, they
piled two empty casks, which were ordinarily used as seats, and thus,
with the remaining bench, they were able, without difficulty, to reach
the ceiling. This platform was only sufficiently large to allow two to
work at a time; so while Captain Fleetwood and Bowse mounted on it, the
other two held it firm, and handed up the wedges and cross bars they had
manufactured. As they were, of course, afraid to make any noise by
hammering in the wedges, they first worked away with their knives, till
they had formed grooves to insert the edge of several; they then placed
the ends of the handspikes against them, and pressing those with all
their force, they had the satisfaction of seeing that the planking began
to separate. They persevered in their efforts, and the planks being
fortunately old and rotten, and exceedingly dry, from the heat of
summer, the nails easily drew out, and they were soon able to insert
their cross bars. They had begun making the hole in the roof, some
little way from the wall, and it was fortunate they had done so. In a
quarter of an hour they had removed enough of the planking to enable
Fleetwood to draw himself through, when he found that heavy stones were
placed on the outer edges to keep them down on the wall, and that they
had had a narrow escape of their coming tumbling through upon their
heads; or of having sent them crashing over, with a loud noise, on the
ground on the outside. As it was, a quantity of rubbish had fallen
through, and they found that the whole roof was covered with it, and
that they had by chances selected the spot where it lay the thinnest.
Bowse followed Captain Fleetwood to the roof, and they then assisted
their Greek friend and Pietro to ascend, after the latter had
extinguished the light, replaced the table bench and casks as before,
and swept the rubbish under the straw. As he was a light, active man,
by stretching down their hands as he stood on one of the casks, they
were able to drag him through on the roof. They then carefully closed
down the planking, and swept some rubbish over it, so that it would
require a little examination, to discover by what means they had made
their escape.
So far, they were once more in the open air and at liberty to proceed,
if they could reach the ground. The night was like the previous one,
with a clear sky and the stars shining brightly, while the moon had
become much too small to give more light than just sufficient to enable
them to find their way.
The hazard now was to descend without making a noise, for the night was
so serene that the slightest sound would, they feared, be heard; though
the distance did not appear more than an active man could leap without
danger. But the walls were broken and crumbling, and it was difficult
to find a spot on which they could depend, to take their last hold of
before dropping off. After proceeding a few paces to the right,
however, the wall appeared more even.
"Now, my friends," whispered Fleetwood, "I will lead the way, and try
the depth--the ground below seems free from stone--and, by grasping the
ends of your handkerchiefs, I may fall without the fear of breaking my
legs."
On this, the other three, as proposed, formed a rope with their
handkerchiefs; and all of them leaning over the wall.
Fleetwood threw himself off; and, grasping the handkerchiefs, lowered
himself till he reached the end, and then dropped. The fall was
considerably greater than he expected--for the ground sloped away on
that side of the ruin, in a manner on which they had not calculated; and
he had great reason to congratulate himself on the precaution he had
taken. The other two adventurers insisted on Bowse, who was the
heaviest man of the party, following next. He could now better judge of
the depth; and Fleetwood, having rolled away all the loose stones, he
fell without injury. The Greek came next, and was caught in the arms of
his companions; and Pietro, in like manner, dropped down, the rest
saving him as he fell. This feat accomplished, they all breathed more
freely; and crouching down on the ground to avoid being seen, they
listened attentively to ascertain if any one was moving, before they
again put themselves in motion. Not a sound disturbed the silence of
the night; and, satisfied that they were not discovered, they crept
cautiously on towards the eastward, under the shadow of the wall, in the
manner Nina had led Fleetwood on the previous night. It still wanted an
hour and a half to the time he had desired Ada to be prepared; and he
resolved to employ the interval in ascertaining whether the door of her
tower was locked; and, if he found it so, to proceed to the mistico, and
procure the cordage which might be required. Leaving his companions,
therefore, seated on the ground, in a sheltered rock, he walked to the
tower alone.
He first looked carefully on every side; and, having ascertained that no
one was near, he approached the door. It was locked--as he feared it
might be--and, after the most minute examination, he could discover no
means by which he could open it. He then went under the window, and, in
vain, tried to attract the attention of the inmates. They were,
apparently, too busily employed within. At last, he threw up some small
stones, and after numerous efforts, one entered the casement.
"Who's there?" said a voice, which he recognised as Raby's.
"_Ione_" replied the captain, in a loud whisper.
"Is it you, sir?" exclaimed the midshipman, to whom the answer was
familiar. "I'll be down at the door directly."
And Fleetwood heard him hurriedly descending the steps.
"You are much sooner than we expected, sir," said the lad through the
chinks of the door. "Can you open the door from the outside?"
"No; can you open it from within?" asked Fleetwood on return.
"No, sir," said the midshipman; "I tried for a whole hour to pick the
lock, but could not do it; so I have fitted a chair, strengthened with
some ropes which came with Miss Garden's baggage, and there will be no
more difficulty in getting down from the tower than from the deck of a
frigate."
"You have done admirably," replied Fleetwood. "I will not stop to thank
you,--but tell Miss Garden everything is going on well--and I will
return in an hour."
The adventurers had some difficulty in picking their way among the rocks
to the little bay where the mistico lay on the sand; but they succeeded
in reaching it without encountering any one; and, as they had discovered
the means of descending to it in the morning by the secret path I
mentioned, leading through the cavern, they easily got down. They found
that the vessel had not been disturbed--indeed, old Vlacco, having
claimed her for their chief, no one would have ventured to take anything
from her. They were thus not only able to procure the rope and blocks,
but to provide themselves with some arms they had stowed away where they
had not been discovered; and some provisions which, should they miss the
_Ione's_ boats, might be very important. Although, from the peculiar
rig of the mistico, her halyards were too short to be of any service,
and her sheets too thick, a coil of small rope was found of sufficient
length for the purpose; and, loaded with their treasures, they bade
farewell to the little craft which had served them in such good stead.
"I should like to burn her, to prevent the rascals benefiting by her,"
said Captain Vassilato, as they walked along the sand to the entrance of
the cave. "But, as the so doing would probably betray us to them, we
must leave her to them as a gift; and may she drown some of them before
they have done with her."
"I would rather we could catch her again with a few of them in her,"
observed Bowse. "I never like to wish an enemy worse luck than a good
thrashing, if I can meet him in fair fight; but, to be sure, from what
we hear of these fellows, they don't deserve much mercy from civilised
men, though we have no reason to complain of the way they have treated
us."
"Stay till they discover what we are about, and they would cut our
throats without ceremony," replied Captain Vassilato. "We shall do
wisely not to trust them."
Fleetwood walked on ahead without speaking. His mind was too much
occupied with the importance of the undertaking, and the risk to her he
loved, to allow him to enter into conversation; and, indeed, he wished
his friends would be silent, for, though it was not probable any of the
islanders were within hearing, it was possible that some one might be
out, and they might betray themselves. The same thing struck them at
last, and they followed in silence. The most difficult part of the
journey was where they had to mount the rude steps cut in the cliff, and
where the slightest slip might have proved fatal. They, however,
reached the open door in safety, and then proceeded more briskly on
their way. Wherever they could, they kept as much as possible under
shelter; but they had several open spaces to pass, where they could not
avoid exposing themselves to view; though, as there were no habitations
in the neighbourhood, they did not fear any danger from this
circumstance.
Any one who has been engaged in an undertaking, on which not only their
own life and safety depends, but also that of others, and among them of
one dearer than life itself, will understand the feelings which animated
Fleetwood's bosom, as the most difficult and dangerous part of the work
was about to be accomplished. The happiness, the pride, the joy
unspeakable which would be his, should he succeed in placing her in
safety, urged him dauntlessly on; at the same time the thought of what
would be the result of failure made him grave and serious; his own
speedy death, but that he set at naught; her misery and continued
captivity, and, perhaps, even a fate too horrible for him to
contemplate; and he did not forget that he had companions also, who had
generously risked their lives to assist him, and that they also would be
involved in his destruction. Fortunately the difficulties of the road,
the necessity of looking out for the best path among the rocks, and of
watching for the approach of any person who might interrupt them,
prevented him from dwelling so deeply on the subject as to unfit him for
the work.
His heart beat quick as he approached the tower; and, wringing his
friends' hands as they hurried on to prepare the boat they had fixed on,
he remained under Ada's window with the coil of rope, promising to
follow, as soon as possible, with Miss Garden and her companions. Jack
Raby was on the watch, and appeared at the window as he got under it.
So well had the midshipman arranged everything, that not a word was
spoken. He let a line down, which he had made by unstranding a piece of
rope, and twisting up some bits of the carpet; and, though composed of
so many materials, it was sufficiently strong for the purpose; and with
it he hauled up the end of the rope and the block through which it was
to run. The block he at once, with a sailor's quickness, securely
fastened on to the iron bar; and, reeving the rope through it, he
fastened one end to the chair he had arranged, and then, putting the
chair out of the window, he jumped into it, holding on by the other part
of the rope, and lowered himself down to Fleetwood's feet.
"All right, sir," he whispered. "I thought it better to try the length
of the rope and the strength of my chair, before we trusted Miss Garden
in it. She is in capital heart, sir, and so is my new sister. Now,
sir, if you will stand by the end, I'll go up again to help her into the
chair, and bear it off the wall. I can't ask you to haul me up, sir."
"No, no, jump in, my lad, and be careful, in Heaven's name, that you
secure Miss Garden properly," said Fleetwood, pressing his hand; and he
quickly hauled him up again to the window, and the chair once more
appeared, with Ada seated in it, a shawl thrown round her, in true
man-of-war fashion. Raby had taken care to have everything properly
prepared.
"Now, sir, lower away gently, if you please," he whispered, as he leaned
out of the window; and Ada Garden safely descended into Fleetwood's
arms. A silent embrace was all he would allow himself, before he hauled
up the chair to lower down Marianna, who accomplished the transit with
the same speed as her mistress. Jack Raby did not immediately descend,
but, hauling up the rope, he cast off the block, and then passed the
rope over the bar, and descended by it.
"I won't delay you a moment, Captain Fleetwood," he said. "But I am
determined the pirates shall not find out how we escaped, and, as there
is a cliff close here, which overhangs the sea, I will, with your leave,
heave the chair, and rope, and block, over it, and they will never
discover them there; or if they do, they will think that we got over the
cliffs."
As Fleetwood considered the delay would not be of consequence, and that
no harm could arise from allowing the midshipman to have his way, he
gave him leave to do as he proposed, and in two minutes he returned,
having accomplished his object.
"There, sir," he said, laughing quietly. "If the pirates miss one of
the chairs, they may look for it long enough before they find it or the
rope, and in the mean time they will fancy English young ladies can jump
forty feet to the ground without hurting themselves. When they try to
open the door, too, they'll think we are inside, for I barricadoed it
with everything I could find, and there'll be a pretty smash when they
shove it open."
"You have done admirably, and now take Marianna's arm, and follow me,"
said Fleetwood, leading the way with Ada.
When Ada Garden found herself once more by Fleetwood's side, she
returned her grateful thanks to Heaven for having thus restored her to
liberty; for so strong was her confidence in her lover's courage and
judgment, that she felt as if all difficulty and danger were over, and
that success must await them.
Fleetwood also uttered a silent thanksgiving to Heaven, and a prayer for
protection during the still greater danger he knew they must encounter
in their endeavour to get out of the harbour; but, of course, he did not
tell her this. Neither spoke; they both were confident of the
sentiments of each other's heart, and Ada felt it would be useless at
that moment to express her gratitude, when she hoped to prove it during
the remainder of her life; and he in like manner knew that there would
be no necessity to tell her of his love and joy at finding her, when his
acts were giving her such convincing evidence of it. They walked on
under the shadow of the wall, as noiselessly and rapidly as they could
move, towards the commencement of the steep path leading down the
ravine. In doing so they had to pass close to Nina's tower. Fleetwood
looked up; no light was seen streaming from the casement, nor was any
one heard stirring within.
On they went, and, Fleetwood tenderly supporting Ada, they commenced
descending the path. They had got about a quarter of the way down, when
Fleetwood fancied he heard the sound of a distant footfall. Could it be
the echo of their own feet? he thought, then made a sign to Raby to stop
while they listened. There could be no mistake about it. Footsteps
were rapidly approaching, and, on looking back, they saw, to their
dismay, a dark figure on the cliff above them. Fleetwood drew back
under the shadow of an overhanging rock, and he could feel Ada, who had
also seen the figure, as she clung closer to his arm, tremble with
alarm, which she in vain endeavoured to overcome. Marianna uttered a
faint shriek, and was going to repeat it, when Jack Raby gave her a
pinch, which effectually recalled her to her senses, and, in a whisper,
he threatened to give her another if she made the slightest noise. A
minute or two of the most intense anxiety passed away, which, under the
circumstances, appeared nearly an hour, and no one appeared.
"If we emerge from where we are, we cannot escape being seen, should the
person remain where he was," replied Fleetwood. "It will be better to
confront him boldly, and learn his intention in following us, than to
allow him to go back and to give information of our attempt. I will
leave you, Ada, in charge of Mr Raby, and will return instantly."
"Oh, do not quit me!" exclaimed Ada. "I will go with you--indeed, I am
not alarmed for myself; but I know not what may happen to you. They may
kill you, Fleetwood--oh, do not go."
"It is absolutely necessary that something should be done, dearest, and
there is no greater danger to be feared in going than remaining,"
answered Fleetwood. "Ada, I must force myself from you--it must be
done."
"You are right, Charles, I was weak. Go, and I will remain as you
wish," she whispered, relinquishing his arm, and he sprang up the path.
Jack did his best to comfort Ada, by assuring her that his captain could
easily manage to thrash a dozen Greeks, and that he was not likely to
suffer any harm from a single pirate, at all events. Every moment Ada
expected to hear the noise of a struggle, a pistol-shot, or the clash of
swords. She listened with breathless eagerness, trembling in every
limb, and she would have followed her lover, had she not known that her
so doing would be against his wish, and could be of no advantage to him,
but might cause great harm. It appeared to her an age since he left
her, and her anxiety became almost too great to be borne.
"Oh, Mr Raby, cannot you go up and see what has become of Captain
Fleetwood? Some accident has happened to him, I am certain," she
whispered to the midshipman.
"I must obey orders, Miss Garden, and wait for the captain's return,"
was the answer, in the same low tone. "You need not be alarmed, I can
assure you--he has not been gone two minutes."
He had scarcely spoken when Ada's quick ear caught the sound of
footsteps, and she could scarcely restrain her cry of joy, as she sprang
forward to meet him. He placed his arm tenderly round her to support
her, as he led her on.
"It is very extraordinary," he said; "I could find no one, though I
searched the very spot where I had seen him standing. But, come on,
dearest, we have time to reach the boat, and to get outside the harbour
before the spy, if such he was, can send people to pursue us."
"I am able to walk much faster," said Ada, hastening her steps, "I dread
any delay in this dreadful place."
They had not, however, proceeded many paces, when, on turning one of the
many angles of the winding path, a person, the same, they fancied, whom
they had before seen, appeared suddenly before them, and laid a hand on
Fleetwood's arm.
"Stay, signor," he said in a low, deep voice, speaking in the Italian
language. "You are already suspected by one who knows not mercy, and if
he were to discover your wild attempt to carry off that lady, your death
would be the consequence. Return and abandon it; for ere you can get
beyond the sound of the waves, as they dash on the cliffs below, you
will be pursued and overtaken."
"I know not who you are, signor," said Fleetwood; "but, as I believe
your warning is given in kindness, I thank you. To follow your advice
is impossible, and I must beg you, as a favour, not to detain us--I need
not ask you, I trust, not to betray us."
"I feel sure that Signor Montifalcone will not do so," exclaimed Ada,
recognising at once the voice of the young Italian. "He will rather
exert himself to assist us--I am not mistaken in his generosity."
Paolo was silent a minute, when, releasing his grasp of Fleetwood's arm,
he sighed as if his heart would break, and took Ada's hand. "Lady," he
said, in a tone of deep melancholy, "you sign my death-warrant; but it
shall not prevent me from obeying your wishes. I will accompany you to
your boat, if you have one prepared, and, when you have gone, I will
endeavour to deceive those who attempt to follow you. Further, I know
not how to aid you."
"We are grateful to you for your promised aid," said Fleetwood; "and
now, lead on, we can ill afford further delay."
"It is for the lady's sake I act," muttered Paolo, beginning to move
onward down the path.
Ada overheard him. "It is because you are generous, and would preserve
the lives of others, even though you risk your own," she said, in a low
tone, touching his arm. "But if there is danger in remaining here, come
with us. You can be conveyed in safety to your native country, and can
ascertain if your father yet lives."
"What! and leave my unhappy sister to her fate?" said the young man,
turning round his countenance towards her, which, even with the faint
light afforded by the moon, she observed wore an expression of the
deepest grief. "I have but one object to live for,--for her sake alone
I consent to endure existence. Do not ask me to quit her."
"Oh that she would have come too," said Ada. "She might yet be saved."
"She would not accompany you, lady," answered Paolo. "Pirate though he
is, Zappa is still her husband, and no power would now make her quit
him. But I delay you, and increase the risk of discovery, already
sufficiently great, by speaking. I will say no more, but that I pray,
when in safety in your native land, you will not forget the unhappy
exile whom once you knew, and who would gladly have died to serve you."
He spoke as they walked on, and a few minutes more brought them to the
mouth of the ravine, whence a full view of the moonlit bay lay before
them.
The _Sea Hawk_ and two misticos were at their anchors. No light
appeared on board either of them, nor was there any one moving, that
Fleetwood could discover, on their decks; nor was the slightest noise
heard, except the low, gentle ripple of the untiring water on the sands;
yet so smooth and glass-like was the sea, that every star in the heavens
seemed reflected on its surface. He could distinguish, also, the dark
boats drawn up on the beach; but he looked in vain for the one his
friends were to secure, in which to make their escape.
"They have, with due caution, carefully concealed her," he said to
himself. "When we get more to the left, we shall doubtlessly see her."
On descending to the sands, they turned, therefore, sharp round to the
left under the cliffs, which, it must be remembered, was the direction
of the spot agreed on where the boat was to be in readiness. At length
they reached the black rock, alongside of which Fleetwood expected to
find her, and, to his great satisfaction, he saw that she was there; and
his friends directly after rose from her bottom, where they had
concealed themselves while waiting for his coming.
"We were alarmed for your safety, Captain Fleetwood," said Bowse,
leaping out to meet them. "We waited so long for you; but everything is
in readiness. If you will assist Miss Garden on board, I will take care
of Marianna. But who is this stranger with you?"
"One to whom I owe much," said Ada, stretching out her hand. "Farewell,
Signor Montifalcone, may Heaven reward you for what you have done for
me."
"Farewell, lady, and may you never know the grief I am doomed to bear,"
returned the Italian; and before Fleetwood, who would have thanked him,
could speak, he had retired to a distance; and as they quickly embarked,
and urged the boat from the shore, they could see him standing watching
them, still as a marble statue.