Left at liberty, Nina and Ada returned to the upper chamber of the
tower, where the latter entreated the unhappy Italian girl to allow her
to dress the wound in her shoulder, which was far deeper and more
serious than she had acknowledged to Zappa; but she refused all
assistance.
"No," she said; "no hand but mine shall tend the wound which he has
given; and it matters but little, for I feel that the clouds of my
destiny are gathering over me, and that very soon the storm will burst
to overwhelm me."
But her will was more powerful than her frame, and as she spoke she sank
down on the divan, and would have fallen to the ground, had not Ada and
Marianna ran to support her. Overcome with agitation and loss of blood,
she had fainted, and taking advantage of the opportunity, they placed
her on a couch, and while they applied restoratives, they bathed the
wound, and tried to staunch the blood. She gave signs at length of
life; but hers was no ordinary faint, and for hours did she continue in
that state, wavering on the verge of death. As Ada herself, fevered and
weary, sat by the side of her friend, she felt almost equally overcome
with alarm and anxiety for the fate of her lover. What could have
become of him? Had Paolo proved treacherous, and, afraid of his
recovery, spirited him away, and cast him over the cliffs? or was she
wronging the young Italian, and had he not, mistrusting the mercy of the
pirate chief, concealed him in some secret place till his anger had worn
off? This she owned to herself was the most probable cause; but love,
even on ordinary occasions, is full of doubt and fears, much more so
then had she reason for dread under the circumstances in which he was
placed. While she believed Zappa was ignorant of who he was, she
trusted he was in no other danger than that resulting from his wound;
but now that he was discovered, after the dreadful exhibition she had
witnessed of the pirate's temper, she trembled at what might be his
fate. Why had she quitted him? she thought. Why had she not boldly
avowed who he was, and her love for him, and dared the pirate to injure
him? She had seen the successful effects Nina had produced by such
behaviour on the daring outlaw--why had she not acted in the same
manner? She bitterly accused herself of having deserted him, of having
trusted him to strangers, and, more than all, of being the cause of his
death. This thought gave her the most poignant grief, and she prayed
that if Heaven had ordained that he must thus die, she might be spared
the misery of knowing it. Daylight surprised her still sitting by the
couch whereon lay the yet more unhappy Nina.
"And yet, compared to that poor girl's fate, mine is blessed indeed,"
she thought, as she, watched those pallid features, on which an
expression of acute pain still rested. "She staked all for love, and
has found the idol she madly worshipped turned into a demon, who she
feels will destroy her. She, too, has an accusing conscience to keep
happiness at a distance. She remembers that she burst asunder the bonds
of duty, that she caused the death of a fond parent; while I, through
Heaven's mercy, have never been subject to the temptation to create for
myself a retrospect so dreadful."
It would be well, indeed, if all in a position likely to read these
pages would remember, as did Ada Garden, when they are subjected to
misfortune or suffering, that there are thousands around them in a far,
far worse condition, deprived of all that can make life of value,
without hope in this world or the next, and men they would never dare to
arraign the dispensation of Providence, by which they receive the
infliction from which they suffer, and would feel that even thus they
are blessed above their fellows. Poor Ada saw that Marianna still
slept, and, fearful lest Nina should require assistance, she was herself
afraid of retiring to rest, though weariness made her head fall
frequently on her bosom. At length she was aroused by a gentle knock at
the door, and little Mila entered the room. She was evidently full of
something which she wished to communicate, and told a long story, not a
word of which Ada could understand. So eager had she been, that she did
not perceive the condition to which Nina was reduced, believing that she
was still asleep from simple fatigue, but her eye falling on her, she
burst into loud lamentations of grief, which very nearly awoke her from
the lethargy into which she had fallen. It was the means, however, of
awaking Marianna, by whose aid she was able to make the little girl
comprehend the importance of seeking out Paolo, and bringing him to
attend on his sister. She was absent nearly two hours, but at length
returned, accompanied by the Italian. Eager as Ada was to gain tidings
of Fleetwood, she forbore to ask him any questions till he had recovered
from the state of agitation into which he was thrown by seeing the
condition of his unhappy sister.
"You need not tell me who has done this deed," he muttered, in a hoarse
voice, as he bent over her. "I knew it would come to this--I knew, when
weary of her, he would cast her aside as a child its broken toy, or
would thus destroy her in his mad passion. Yet it would have been
kinder had he struck deeper, and thus ended her misery with a blow. I
have remained near her--I have watched over her, ill-treated and
despised as I have been,--that, when this should be her fate, though I
could not shield her from it, I might yet avenge her death. Yes, my
sweet Nina, indifferent as you may deem me, I love you deeply."
"But, Signor Paolo," said Ada, not knowing how long he might continue in
this strain, "your sister is still alive, and I trust that by the aid of
your skill, her wound may neither be mortal nor of much consequence."
"Not mortal, lady," he said, bitterly; "and yet, I tell you, it would
have killed her had it but scratched the skin. It is the spirit with
which that dagger was cast will destroy her far quicker than the wound."
Ada now entreated him to examine into his sister's condition; and at
length, grown more calm, he set skilfully about his office, and he
confessed that, if fever did not set in, the wound was of slight
importance.
When he was at liberty, Ada at last asked him to give her tidings of
Fleetwood; but he denied all knowledge of him, saying, that he had left
him, with Raby watching him, at the fisherman's hut, and that on his
return, both were gone, and that he could nowhere discover them.
Mila, now having an interpreter, came forward with her version of the
story. She said she had heard that their chief had, on quitting the
tower, come down to the bay in a state of passion, in which he had never
before been seen, at the non-appearance of the two other prisoners, whom
he vowed he would execute the moment they were discovered; that he had
caused diligent search to be made for them in every direction, with the
same want of success, till, at last a small boat belonging to the _Zoe_
was found to be missing, in which it was, consequently, supposed they
had escaped.
"Thank Heaven!" ejaculated Ada, with a gleam of joy on her countenance,
which showed how much her heart was relieved. "Oh, Signor Paolo, you
know not how grateful I am to you for your generous assistance in the
matter."
"Do not thank me, lady, nor believe that I knew of, or had any hand in
the escape of your countrymen, if indeed they have escaped, of which I
would entreat you not to be too sanguine," he replied; but, seeing the
reaction his words were producing, he added, "and yet, remember, I have
no reason to suppose that they are not in a place of safety. More I
cannot say--and I beseech you not to ask me."
"But I have not told you all," interrupted little Mila, who guessed that
he was no longer translating what she had said. "The moment the chief
found that the boat was gone, he ordered as many men as she can carry to
go on board the _Zoe_, and he himself accompanied them. She immediately
set sail in pursuit, and they say that there is no doubt of the little
boat being overtaken; and that even were he to meet the larger boats
which made the attack on the island, the mistico will, without doubt,
sink them all, and destroy everybody in them."
Paolo translated to Ada what Mila said, and the account again renewed
her fears for Fleetwood's safety, though still she did not allow hope to
abandon her.
It may seem that the Italian would have acted a more judicious part, had
he not given the latter information; but he was unhappily himself
influenced by two motives; the one right, and good, and generous--the
spontaneous result of his better nature; the other arising from his
yielding to temptation, which was selfish, mad, and wicked. The first
prompted him to run every personal risk to save his rival from the
pirate's anger; the other made him wish for his death, and eager to
deprive him of the love of the fair English girl, whom, he still fancied
he might save from Zappa's power, and win her for himself.
For the present, Paolo had a holy and absorbing employment for his mind,
in tending his unhappy sister, who, under his judicious care, recovered,
sooner than Ada had expected, from the effect of her wound, though she
saw, too truly, that her words were verified, and that the weapon had
struck deeper than the eye could reach.
Ada was now confined completely to the upper room of the tower, both
because she would not quit her friend, and that she might avoid any risk
of encountering Zappa, who had taken up his abode in the lower part of
it. Paolo was her only means of knowing what was going forward in the
world without, and she felt an unwillingness to hold more communication
with him than was absolutely necessary; indeed, nothing he said could
dispel her fears.
The _Zoe_, it appeared, had been out all day; but an ominous silence had
been kept as to the result of her expedition. Some said she had
overtaken the boat, and brought back the prisoners; others, that the
pirate had, in his rage, ordered the guns to be pointed down on her, and
sunk her, with them on board; while, again, some asserted that the
prisoners had not escaped from the island at all, and that they were
concealed somewhere in it.
This conflicting evidence was little calculated to alleviate her
anxiety; but her heart was fresh and young--her health and spirits were
unbroken, and the air which was wafted through her casement was bright
and pure, and she still hoped on for the best. Meantime the pirates
were not idle; and she observed from her window, that they were engaged
all day long in strengthening and improving the fortification of the
castle, as well as those on the other side of the harbour. They threw
up embankments, also, across the neck of land which joined the rock on
which the castle stood, to the right of the island, and planted guns to
defend the approach to it, as also a whole line along the cliff, which
overlooked the entrance to the harbour.
Provisions of all sorts were got in from every part of the island, and
huts were erected, in which to store them; for the men, themselves
accustomed from their youth to the roughest life, cared not for shelter,
so that there was little chance of their being compelled, by famine, to
yield.
Nothing, indeed, was neglected, which might enable them to defend their
stronghold against any force sent against it.
The _Sea Hawk_ was also carefully refitted, and the two misticoes made
ready for defence or flight.
The _Zoe_ was again sent out to reconnoitre. She had been absent for
two days, and the pirate began to be alarmed for her safety, and to
argue that the enemy were probably approaching, and that she had fallen
into her hands. All was, consequently, activity and excitement. The
crew of the _Sea Hawk_ went on board to man her, and those of the
islanders destined to garrison the castle hurried up there with their
arms ready for action. At length, a sail was discerned approaching the
island, and she was soon pronounced to be the _Zoe_. Nearer and nearer
she drew to the land, till there was no doubt of her identity, and as
she entered the harbour, she was warmly greeted by those on shore, who
hurried down to learn the news she brought. Her crew reported that they
had visited the island when the English brig-of-war had last been seen,
but she was not there, nor could they gain any tidings of her; but that
they had, on the following day, when standing to the southward, made out
three sails, which, from the squareness of their yards, they conjectured
to be men-of-war, and that they were standing on a bowline to the
eastward, with the wind at north, but that they deemed it imprudent to
approach nearer to ascertain further particulars.
This information prevented Zappa from taking a cruise in the _Sea Hawk_,
as he had been intending, both to gain further intelligence of the
enemy, and to pick up a few prizes to satisfy the impatience of his
people, who began to murmur at the length of time which had passed since
they had been engaged in what they considered useful activity, as well
as to replace the property he had lost by the burning of his tower.
Ada had not neglected to inquire for the prisoners who had so severely
suffered in her cause, and, though not allowed to communicate with them,
she learned from Paolo that they were not treated with any unusual
severity, farther than being confined in a chamber under ground, where
very little light or air could penetrate, and that he believed their
lives were in no danger.
Nina never spoke of the dreadful night when she had first felt the
fierceness of her husband's anger; but her sunken eye, her hollow voice,
and faded cheek, showed what the effect had been, though, when she met
him, she tried to smile as of yore, and to attempt to win him to his
better mood.
His followers, however, remarked that an ominous change had come over
him, and that his mind at times seemed wavering on its throne.
The unhappy Paolo still nourished in silence his love for Ada, and day
by day he allowed it to increase, till he could scarcely conceal his
feelings in her presence.
It was night, and he stood where he had spent many an hour, on the cliff
beneath her window. No moon was in the sky, and the stars were
concealed by a canopy of clouds which hung over the sea, and the wind
moaned amid the rocks and ruined buildings with a melancholy tone well
consonant to his feelings.
Suddenly the perfect silence which had existed was broken by loud,
terrific cries; the roar of cannon--the rattle of musketry--the cheers,
and shrieks, and fierce imprecations of men striving in deadly combat;
where had lately reigned silence and darkness, all was now the wildest
confusion and uproar, and lighted up with the blaze of the death-dealing
musketry.
The pirate rushed by, and entered Ada's tower, giving orders to his
followers, the meaning of which no sooner did Paolo understand, than
exclaiming, "Now is the time, or she is lost to me for ever," he hurried
after him.