position of this island. He fulfilled his promise,
and I at length returned to the castle. Alas! though my father still
lived, I saw at once by the pallor on his cheek, and trembling voice,
that his days were numbered. I appeared to him like one returning from
the dead; for he had believed that I was slain in endeavouring to
prevent my sister from being carried off. He blamed her not--he
pardoned her weakness and folly, and his longing desire was to see her
once more before he died.

"I had yet another blow to receive. My eldest brother, whom I loved
dearly, had been slain by the dagger of an assassin at Naples, and I
became the heir to the family property, which I neither wished for nor
could enjoy. My whole anxiety was now to return to the island, and to
endeavour to persuade the pirate to allow my sister to accompany me back
to see our father ere he died.

"At last I received a letter desiring me to repair to a certain port,
where I was to be met by a person who would convey me on board a
felucca, whence I was to be transferred to the pirate vessel. I thought
not of the dangers and difficulties of the undertaking, but, embracing
my father, with a bleeding heart I tore myself from him, and hastened to
the appointment. Zappa received me cordially, and I was in hopes, would
consent to my request; but when I at length made it, he at once
positively refused to grant it.

"He said that Nina was now happy and contented; and that she knew not of
her father's illness; and that if she was allowed to leave him she would
hear things to his prejudice, and might refuse to return; and that, as
she was only going to see her father die, it could not possibly benefit
her. The more I urged my request, the more he appeared determined to
refuse it, till at length I saw that all attempts to gain him to consent
would be worse than futile, so I ceased from importuning him. I did not
the less meditate how I could best accomplish my object.

"As soon as I reached the island, I told Nina, the first time I was
alone with her, of our father's wish to see her, at the same time
binding her not to mention the subject to her husband, as I assured her
he would not consent to part from her. As soon as I explained our
father's state to her, and told her he was heartbroken at her loss, she
wept bitterly, and promised to enter into any plan I might arrange to
enable her to visit him, fully intending again to return here. My
purpose was, t