longer than usual that I feared for your
safety, and for that of my poor brother."

"Old Vlacco was a strict jailor, was he?" said Zappa. "Why, you know,
my pretty bird, I warned him to beware lest you should take flight, as
once you tried to do, urged by the persuasions of your brother; and, I
suppose he thought he was to obey his orders to the letter; but now we
have returned, your cause of anxiety will have ceased, and I believe you
love me too well ever again to wish to leave me. I believe, also, your
brother has been taught the folly of his conduct too well to attempt it
again. But a truce with subjects which are disagreeable. Here's to
your health, sweet one; I pledge you in this sparkling goblet of Samian
wine, and I will try to drive away your melancholy by recounting some of
the adventures of my voyage." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to
the table, and seizing a large glass of wine, he drank it off at a
draught. "Ah! this cheers the heart after the hardships of the ocean.
Wine is a glorious thing, Nina; it banishes the gloomy thoughts which
will ever and anon intrude into the hearts even of the bravest. But I
promised you my adventures, sweet one. Soon after we sailed from hence,
we had a few skirmishes with Turkish vessels; we captured and destroyed
two, but they had little on board them of value, and the men began to
grow discontented with our want of success, and at last I resolved to
fly at nobler game. By the by, I happened to fall in with a Neapolitan
vessel; the crew were your countrymen, Nina, and I would not injure
them, though, I believe, some of my people, unknown to me, bored holes
in her to try add sink her. While we were engaged in taking out
whatever was of value, a ship of war hove in sight, and we were obliged
to leave her. I then stood towards the coast of Italy--"

"Oh! do not tell me of such dreadful things. I cannot, I do not believe
you. I thought you were only engaged in fighting the enemies of your
country, and of the Christian race, and you confess to committing deeds
which would make you a pirate--a foe to all nations. Say that you were
joking."

Zappa laughed heartily as he answered,--"A prejudice, my pretty Nina; it
is one you must conquer, too, with all speed. What! despise my free and
independent profession. You, my wife, think ill of piracy, and the
brave rovers who commit it. Ha! ha! ha! that must no longer be, let me
assure you. To my story--you inter