ould happen to fall in
with the Signor Zappa and his brig the _Sea Hawk_, just tell him that
the _Zodiac_ will give him a warm reception if he attempts to play off
any of his tricks upon her."

"You don't know the pirate," exclaimed the young man vehemently, "he--"

"Do you know him?" said Timmins, fixing his eye upon him. The man's
glance quailed before that of the stout sailor.

"Oh no, signor, I don't know him--I have heard of him though."

"Oh! is that it?" said the mate, interpreting what he heard to the
captain.

"Well, just ask him and his father if they will come down below, and
take a glass of something before they shove off," said Bowse.

A few words were exchanged between the two strangers in a low tone, and
there appeared to be some hesitation on the part of the elder; but, at
last, they consented, and followed the master into an outer cabin, which
he had retained as his own, and where he and his mate messed. A door
from it opened into the cabins engaged by the colonel, who, when he saw
the strangers, retired also with his niece into their cabin.

As the door between the two stood open, all that took place in one could
be heard in the other.

"Let the Italians come in here, Mr Bowse," said the colonel, from the
inner cabin. "I will give them a glass of sherry which they will like
better than rum and water, and it will do them more good than their own
thin wash."

When the strangers, who, directed by the signs made by the master, found
themselves in the presence of a lady, they stood somewhat abashed, it
seemed, and bowed respectfully as they quaffed off the wine offered to
them. The bright light which was shed from a lamp hanging from the deck
seemed also much to annoy their eyes, long accustomed to darkness, and
they kept their faces shaded by their hands during the short time they
were in the cabin, so that little or nothing of their feature? could be
seen.

For an instant, however, the eyes of the youngest fell on Ada, and, at
that moment, there gleamed in them a peculiar expression, which she
could not help remarking; but what it meant to say, she was at a loss to
comprehend. It was certainly a look of intelligence, as if he expected
to be understood; but there was also blended with it an expression of
admiration, pity, and regret, which further puzzled her. At all events,
she was convinced that, by that look, he intended to convey some
meaning, which he dared not otherwise explain.