next commenced purchasing, and all
suffered as Zappa gained experience in his new calling.

"But does not the captain eat fish?" he asked of a Maltese seaman, who
had been acting the part of interpreter. "Has his servant come to
purchase?"

"The captain does not want any fish, he is not on board to eat it,"
answered the Maltese carelessly. "I wish he were; for he must have been
out in that storm yesterday, in one of your little feluccas, and Heaven
knows what may have become of him."

"Where has he gone, then?" asked the pirate. "It would have been wiser
to have trusted himself in your fine brig here, than in one of our
native boats, which our seamen only know how to handle."

"Oh! don't ask me, my friend; we seamen have no business to talk of our
captain's doings," replied the Maltese, laughing. "But let me know
where you have learned to speak the _lingua Franca_ so well. It is not
often that I can understand ten words uttered by the fishermen of these
parts."

"I will reply to your question, friend, though you do not answer mine,"
returned Zappa. "I sailed as a boy to all parts of the coast of the
Mediterranean, till my father died, and I came home and married. I have
now a mother and sisters, besides a wife and family to support; so I can
go roving no longer. And so your captain has gone on an expedition, has
he? Have many people accompanied him, for I suppose he did not go
alone?"

"As many went as he chose to take with him," replied the Maltese. "If
he had ordered them, the whole ship's company would have gone."

"A clear answer, friend. Does anybody else wish to buy more of my fish.
Just ask them; for I must be off again to catch a fresh supply for the
support of my young family," said the pirate carelessly. "And can you
not tell me then where your captain has gone to?"

"I shall begin to think you have some reason for your curiosity, if you
ask so many questions," observed the shrewd Maltese. "I was joking
about our captain, and, if you want to see him, I can take you to him."

"Is it so?" answered Zappa, who easily divined the reason of the man's
answer, and was far too keen to be deceived by it, or to want a reply.

"I care nothing about your captain, further than that I thought I might
sell him some fish if I met him. But you can do me a service, by
telling me if I am likely to fall in with any other ships of war, or
merchantmen, with whom I may drive my trade?"

"Ah, padrone, I can