ntense interest, the
progress of the sail, now seen without the aid of the glass; but so
persuaded was she that it was her husband's mistico, that she did not
remark the difference of size, nor that she was not steering directly
for the harbour.

"Ah, he will be here soon, and in spite of the storm I must return to my
tower, to receive him when he comes on shore," she exclaimed in a
cheerful voice. "Lady I must bid you farewell, and as I cannot now tell
you all the love and gratitude I feel for you, I must entreat you to
allow me to visit you again. You will forget my passion and folly, and
remember only any redeeming traits you may have discovered in me. Say
you will do this, my sweet friend, before I leave you."

"Indeed I will," answered Ada, pressing both the hands which were held
out to her. "I shall think of you always with the affection of a
sister; but I must not let you go even now; for I fear greatly you will
be disappointed in your expectations. See, yonder bark; mark how her
head is turned; and tell me if she is steering for the harbour."

"Alas! that is not our chief's mistico, after all," exclaimed little
Mila, corroborating the opinion Ada had formed. "She will be wrecked,
too, and all in her will, to a certainty, perish."

"I cannot think that it is not his," said Nina. "He has some reason for
approaching the further end of the island, if, indeed, he is not about
to enter the harbour--perhaps he may purpose going round it to anchor on
the northern side."

"That vessel, as she now steers, would not get round the island, lady,"
observed the Greek girl. "I wish my grandfather were here--and he would
understand clearly all about it. Ah, there he is; and now the rain is
over I may venture out and call him up here. He will explain matters
clearly to us."

Saying this, without a thought of the consequences either to herself or
to her, should the morose old pirate think fit to inform his chief of
Nina's visit to the stranger lady, out ran the lively girl into the open
air.

She was almost blown away down the ravine by a furious gust of wind,
which caught her just as she got outside the door; but, undaunted, she
managed to work on her way, shouting loudly all the time to her
grandfather to come to her assistance; but as he was to windward, and
rather deaf, he did not hear her.

At last she reached him, and seized him by the arm to support herself,
after her fatiguing run, while she insisted on