, it would be dangerous to contradict.

"Lady, my orders were, not to allow you out of my sight, except when you
were locked up in the tower. I have already disobeyed them more than
once, for I knew you would not run away; and I was willing to gratify
you and my little girl there--I am not going to neglect them just as he
is returning, so you must go back to the tower. It is also a far more
fitting place for you to receive him, than exposed to the public gaze on
the beach."

A crimson blush overspread the cheek of the lovely Italian, as she heard
what Vlacco said, and she knew it was hopeless to attempt making him
alter his resolution.

"Then I am a prisoner within those walls," she said, slowly bending her
steps towards the tower, accompanied by Mila.

"Very like it, lady," muttered the old pirate. "By my patron saint, I
would not have ventured to speak in that way a year ago, when her power
was omnipotent in the island. But her rule would not last for ever with
our chief, that I guessed from the first, and I prophesy it will before
long come to an end altogether. Well, the _Sea Hawk_ will very soon be
in the harbour, so I must collect the people to receive him."

Saying this, he climbed to the top of one of the ruined walls of the
castle, and taking a horn, which hung by the girdle at his side, he blew
a blast, which sounded far and wide throughout the island. It was
answered by several sounds in various directions.

In a short time, in twos and threes, armed men were seen approaching;
some up the steep path on the side of the ravine, others across the
causeway; and as they assembled, they were marshalled in order by Vlacco
in front of the tower.

Nina and her companion had placed themselves at the window, to watch the
vessel, and the proceedings below.

The gathering of the pirate's followers--for so Vlacco had pronounced
the commander of the approaching brig to be,--continued for some time,
till Nina observed upwards of fifty persons collected--some of them were
very old men, and others were boys, but there were few in the prime of
life--all such, it appeared, having been called away on some expedition
with their thief. They were all armed to the teeth, but with a great
variety of weapons: some had English muskets, others long Turkish
matchlocks, some rifles and fowling-pieces; every one had a dagger and
one or more pistols in their belts, generally of the rich workmanship of
the East. Their costume