pposed, when they pronounced her to be Zappa's own brig, the _Sea
Hawk_. It was hopeless to expect to escape her by outstripping her in
sailing; so, we lowered the sail on the chance of our remaining
unobserved, while Nina and I crouched down in the bottom of the boat, in
order that, if the pirate vessel should pass at some little distance, we
might be mistaken for one of the fishing-boats of the neighbouring
islands. All our care was futile. On so smooth a sea, and in so bright
an atmosphere, an object as large as we presented might be seen at a
great distance, and we had not escaped the vigilant eyes of the pirates.
On came the vessel. Nina was bathed in tears; the Greeks trembled, for
they knew their lives were at stake. I nerved myself for the worst, for
I knew not what the rage of Zappa might prompt him to do, though I
feared for my sister more than for myself.

"The boat was not only seen but recognised, and the _Sea Hawk_ ran up
close to us. The men were ordered to pull alongside, and we all soon
stood on the deck of the brig.

"`Such, then, is the love you bear me, that the first moment of my
absence you would desert me,' said the pirate, looking reproachfully at
Nina, without taking any notice of me and my companions. `I believed, I
felt sure, that you loved me, but now I know that I was bitterly
mocked.'

"`Oh, no, no!' exclaimed Nina, who had stood trembling and abashed
before him, `I loved you better than life itself. I love you now, and
no human power should have prevented me from returning to you. Do with
me as you will, but do not wring my heart with greater anguish than now
it suffers by believing that I do not love you. My duty to a dying
parent would alone have prompted me to take the step I have done.'

"`I believe you, Nina,' said Zappa, taking her in his arms. `I will not
part with you. As to you, Paolo, you have deceived me, and have
instigated your sister to leave me. I shall take means to prevent your
behaving thus in future.'

"Saying this, he carried my sister below, and placed her in his cabin;
he then returned on deck, and walked up to where the two Greeks were
standing, awaiting their sentence. I had never before seen his fiercer
passions aroused.

"`You know what you have to expect,' he exclaimed, in a voice of
thunder. `You have broken the laws of our community. You would have
deprived me of the two persons I most regard in the world, and
purposed--nay, deny it not--