to sail twice round it before
a landing-place could be discovered. Some little anxiety was felt for
the fate of Mr Thorn and his men, for the pirates were not supposed to
be gentlemen who stood on ceremony as to the treatment of their
prisoners.

"If they dare to injure our people, the Greeks well know that we would
sweep every one of them off their rock into the sea," said Captain
Lascelles. "Clemency on such an occasion is cruelty to others."

Scarcely had the frigate hove-to off what appeared to be a little
harbour, than a boat with a white flag was seen coming out of it. In
ten minutes a splendidly dressed Greek came up the side armed with a
handsomely chased sword and pistols, and a red cap set jauntily on one
side.

"Can any one speak Italian?" he asked, in a soft tone, in that beautiful
language.

"Yes, I can," answered Captain Lascelles.

"Then, sir, I have to make great complaints of ill-treatment from your
people," replied the Greek; and he made out a long story to the effect
that he, a quiet, respectable landowner, whose sole aim was to cultivate
in peace a few acres of land descended to him from a long line of
illustrious ancestors, that he had been insulted, attacked by an aimed
force, suspected of robbery, of which he was incapable; that some of his
poor peasants, in their horror and alarm, finding some boats, had jumped
into them and induced their crews to assist in pulling them to a
neighbouring island, hoping there to be safe; that they had been
pursued, and that then, and not till then, had they been compelled to
resort to some gentle force for their own protection. While the Greek
was speaking, Mr Dobbin came up behind him, and made signs that he was
the very man who had plundered their brig.

"Why, sir, the master of an English merchantman complains that you
ill-treated his people and robbed his vessel."

"_O Signori, impossibile_; that I should be guilty of such an act!" and
the Greek smiled sweetly and put his hand on his heart.

For a moment he was, however, a little taken aback when Mr Dobbin,
stepping forward and confronting him, said, "Do you know me?"

"_Ah si, adesso me ricordo_! Ah yes, now I recollect," said the Greek,
with a bland smile. "But you shall judge, sir, how unjustly I am
accused. I did lately take charge of a brig for a friend. I was
suffering from want of water and bread. See the deceitfulness of the
world; I asked it humbly, they gave it willingly, and at