duce me, I would have died sooner than utter them.

"`Come,' said the men, `we are prepared to administer it without delay,'
and, blindfolding me, they led me into another cabin, where I was
ordered to kneel down on a cushion, and a book was placed in my hands,
which I was told was the Bible. The oath was then administered, and it
made me call down the most dreadful maledictions on my head, and on the
heads of all those dear to me, should I ever break it. The bandage was
then removed from my eyes, and I found myself in a large cabin,
surrounded by men with drawn swords in their hands, and at the head of
them appeared the pirate Zappa.

"A cross was then formed by the swords of the two men standing nearest
to me, which I was compelled to kiss, and then to sign my name in a book
with my own blood. The ceremony completed, I was told to rise, a sword
was placed in my hands, and I was hailed as a comrade. I shuddered at
the name. Zappa then advanced towards me, and, with the same smile
which had once fascinated me, he exclaimed. `Welcome, my dear Paolo,
now doubly my brother. I have been compelled to use a little gentle
force to win you to me as I have long been anxious to do. You are yet
unable to appreciate the advantages I can offer you, so I will not
complain of your angry looks. Now come on deck, and I will introduce
you to your brother officers--for I consider you one of this ship, and I
will try and make a seaman of you.'

"I was meditating, while he spoke, whether I should fly at him, and
endeavour to wreak the bitter vengeance I felt at the moment; but the
oath I had just uttered came to my mind, and for my sister's sake, by a
violent effort, I restrained my passion.

"`I cannot pretend, Signor Caramitzo, not to complain of the violence to
which you have subjected me, and of the deceit you have practised on my
sister,' I replied; `yet, I am in your power, and I trust to your honour
to make the best amends you can--to treat her with tenderness, since she
has given herself to you--and to allow me the opportunity of
communicating with our unhappy father, and of endeavouring to mitigate
the grief he will feel at the loss of his children.'

"`I do not forget that you saved my life, Paolo, and that alone would
make me obey your wishes,' he answered, in a mild, conciliating tone.
`Your sister is dearer far than that life, and, therefore, you need not
fear for her. I will not pretend to disguise from you, Paol