hand, "you are the lady Isabella de Luna?"

"I cannot deny it," said she in a faint voice.

"Then, madam, you see before you one who is acquainted with your story.
Nay, never hang your head for shame; Charles Morton is worth any woman's
love. I am here ready with hand, heart, and head, to second any and
every plan that you may propose, to effect his escape."

The lady remained silent for a few moments, then placing her small hand
in the broad, hard palm of the old seaman, replied, "I know that I can
put the most implicit confidence in you. I have heard from others--why
should I deny it? Mr. Morton has told me often, that, next to his
father, he regards you with affection and esteem as his dearest and
truest friend."

"And he shall never be deceived in old Israel Williams, I can tell him
that, nor shall you, my dear young lady."

"I have but little time to spare," said the young lady, with increasing
trepidation, "and my communication must be brief, as my plan is simple.
To-morrow night, at ten o'clock, Captain Williams, let your swiftest
boat be at the place where Mr. Morton and his companions were taken, and
let her wait there until day-break. It may not be in my power to effect
my object to-morrow night; but let not one nor two disappointments deter
you from repeating the experiment. In the mean time, be on shore
to-morrow as though nothing was in agitation; avoid exciting any
suspicions by either words, looks, or actions; and be assured, that, if
the plan for the rescue of the prisoners fails, it must be from some
accident that can neither be foreseen nor prevented."

The commander of the Albatross having promised to follow all these
directions to the letter, they separated; he to return to his ship with
a joyful heart, and Isabella to reconnoitre the prison previous to
retiring to her uncle's house.

She passed the guard-house at a slow pace and at such distance as to
avoid observation, but sufficiently near to ascertain that all the
guard, four in number besides the corporal, were wrapped up in their
cloaks and stretched out sound asleep upon the stone floor of the
guard-room, which was lighted by a large clumsy lamp sufficiently to
allow her to see its interior. The sentry at the door, who was slowly
pacing backwards and forwards with a paper segar in his mouth, was the
only one awake.

As she bent her steps homeward, she perceived some one approaching her,
in the very direction that she was going, with