followed by little Mila, rushed into the room, shrieking with
alarm; crying out that the building was going to fall about their heads;
at the same time, the rain descended so furiously, that they were afraid
to venture into the open air.

"Oh! signora, we are all going to be washed into the sea, and we shall
never more be heard of; oh! Santa Maria, have mercy on us," cried the
Maltese, rushing up to Ada, and crouching down by her side.

The Greek girl was not so much alarmed, as she had witnessed similar
tempests before, and knew how speedily they terminated; so also had
Nina, who gazed at it devoid of all fear; and whose agitated state of
mind it seemed rather to allay than increase.

"Do not be alarmed, lady," she said, smiling, as she turned to Ada.
"You may also quiet the fears of your attendant, for the masonry with
which we are surrounded has already stood firm for several hundred years
through many a fiercer storm than this; and the shocks we now feel are
not likely to shatter these old towers. They are caused by the waves
dashing under the caverned rocks beneath our feet. How furiously the
waters rage and foam at the opposition this little island makes against
them. It was during a storm like this that Argiri Caramitzo was first
brought to my father's castle. Heaven grant that he may not have been
tempted out on the sea this morning. Mila, do you know if your chief
left the harbour since I came here?"

The latter sentence she spoke in her broken Romaic, and in a tone which
showed her agitation.

"Yes, lady," answered the Greek girl, "He went on board one of the
misticos as soon as he reached the harbour, and immediately set sail."

"Great heaven, and is even now on yon troubled waters," exclaimed the
poor girl almost fainting with agitation. "And I am here, nor even till
this instant thought of him. Cannot we send out the other mistico to
assist him. Surely some of his brave followers will be found ready to
search for him. I myself will accompany them."

"Alas, signora, it would be in vain now to attempt to put to to sea,"
replied Mila, who knew more about nautical affairs than did Nina. "Yet
we need not fear for the safety of our chief--he is even now probably
taking shelter under some of the neighbouring islands. He and those who
are with him are too well accustomed to the signs of the weather not to
have perceived this storm in time to have escaped from its fury."

"Ah, I think I see a whi