oise of the water against the
sides of the vessel showed me that she was under weigh, and I felt how
hopeless was our fate. The morning must have been far advanced when the
door of the cabin was opened by two powerful men, with arms in their
belts. A third person appeared behind them, who spoke a little broken
Italian.

"`We have come,' he said, `Signor Paolo, to request you to take the
oath; without signing which no person is allowed to remain alive on
board this vessel beyond twelve hours. When you have been longer with
us you will see the necessity of our rule. You will not refuse to take
it.'

"`I shall certainly refuse to take any oath which may restrain my
liberty,' I answered; `I desire that my sister and myself be at once
restored to our home.'

"`Whatever we may ultimately do, it is necessary for you to take the
oath before you can quit the cabin. It is the rule of the ship, and the
captain himself, as well as any of his friends must abide by it.'

"`What is the character of the ship I am on board, then?' I asked--the
dreadful truth for the first time flashing across my mind.

"`That you will be told when you have taken the oath,' replied the
interpreter. `The captain has brought you on board, and will not have
you injured; but we claim our privilege, which he cannot refuse us. The
oath to betray neither vessel nor crew, by sign, by word, or deed; to
obey our chief in all things, and to abide by the laws of the ship,
or,'--and the two men drew out their glittering daggers from their
sashes--`death. You preserved our captain's life, he says; but he
cannot save yours, unless you accept our terms, and then, on that
account, we will gladly receive you as a brother.'

"I considered, as well as I was able, under the circumstances, how I
should act. I was young--life seemed full of charms. They were in
earnest, and I saw nothing unreasonable in the oath they imposed on me.
I had no longer any doubt that I was on board a piratical vessel. I
could not expect her crew to act otherwise than they were doing towards
me; and the true character of Caramitzo now appearing more evident, I
felt that there was greater reason to rescue my betrayed sister from his
power; and I thought that the only way of so doing would be to affect no
hesitation even in joining them.

"`I consent to take the oath,' I replied, with as firm a voice as I
could command. Had I known the abject slavery to which those words
would re