owards which
the vessel was driving.

As it was scarcely possible for Nina to reach her own tower, she
continued, with Ada Garden, watching the awful progress of the mistico.

On came the little vessel, scarcely visible, amid the foam and spray
which surrounded her.

She had now got completely to the east side of the tower, whereas, when
first seen at the greatest distance, she was in the south-west. Her
course must, therefore, have been about northeast, as nearly as
possible, directly before the wind; and whatever old Vlacco might have
said to the contrary, she must have been steered by no timid or ignorant
hands.

"She may even now get round the east end of the island!" exclaimed Nina,
whose eye had seldom been off her. "If she can once do that, the
unhappy men on board her may yet escape with their lives."

"But suppose she does not, will not the old Greek and his followers be
able to rescue them?" asked Ada; who, though less apparently excited,
felt an equal, if not a greater interest in the fate of the stranger.

"Ah! she appears even now to be full a mile short of the point. And see
yonder wave which lifts her up--in another instant, it will dash her on
those frowning rocks, and all on board must perish. Oh! Heaven, have
mercy on them. There--there--they are lost."

As she spoke, a huge wave came rolling on, lifting the little vessel on
its curling summit, and, with a loud roar, bore her, with the wildest
impetuosity, towards the frowning cliffs. Downward it came with a
terrific crash, its crest flying upwards in showers of foam, and hurling
the bark, she was lost to sight among the rocks. All the females, as
they beheld the sad spectacle, uttered a cry of horror, and they fancied
that they could hear, amid the howling of the storm, the despairing
shrieks of the drowning mariners, and could distinguish, among the foam,
their dying forms, with their arms stretched out, in their agony, for
assistance, where none could come.

"They are all lost!" cried Nina, hiding her face in her hands to shut
out the dreadful sight her imagination had conjured up. "May the saints
intercede for their souls!"

Her example was followed by Marianna and Mila, while Ada, though pale
and trembling, had pointed the telescope towards the spot, for the
purpose of discovering whether any human beings had succeeded in gaining
the shore. Not a vestige of the wreck could she see; but on the summit
of the cliff, above where s