wards the shore.

"Oh! signora, look there--look there!" cried Marianna. "There is Signor
Paolo going to leave us."

Ada did look, but her eye scarcely rested on Paolo, for it caught sight
of one who sat next to him in the boat. She grasped her attendant's arm
as she whispered, "My worst fears are realised. There goes the pirate
Zappa, and we are his prisoners."

"Oh! don't say such a thing, signora," cried Marianna, trembling; "I
shall die of fright. Yet, surely he could not have had any command on
board such a quiet, well-ordered vessel as this has been?"

"I fear that I am not mistaken in his identity--and his appearance
explains everything," said Ada. "What can he intend now by leaving the
vessel? Try the doors and see if we are still prisoners in the cabin."

Marianna found the door closed as before, and she and her mistress sat
down more alarmed than they had been hitherto; Ada feeling that her last
hope of escape had vanished.

They remained thus for some time, till they were startled by the abrupt
entrance of Paolo into the cabin. He apologised, on seeing Ada's look
of surprise.

"Pardon me, signora; I have been sent by the captain of the ship to
express his regret that your apartments on shore are not arranged, and
to regret that you will have to remain some time longer on board."

"Excuses are superfluous, when no choice is allowed me but to obey,"
returned Ada, with more haughtiness in her manner than usual; for,
having seen Paolo in company with the pirate, she could no longer regard
him in the same light she had before done.

The young man seemed at once to observe and feel the change.

"I deeply regret, signora, that you should have cause to complain," he
exclaimed, in a voice in which sorrow mingled with passion; "but, oh!
believe me, that I am not more free than you, and act under the orders
of one who has the power to compel were I to prove disobedient."

"I believe you," said Ada; "and now tell me, who is this person who
ventures to hold me a prisoner?"

"You will know too soon, lady, but my lips must not inform you,"
returned Paolo. "However, if it can afford you any satisfaction to know
it, be assured that I will watch carefully over you, and that my
directions are, not to quit the vessel except to accompany you on
shore."

"It must be a satisfaction to those in distress to know that they have a
friend who interests himself in their welfare," replied Ada, in a
softened tone, a