the boat, should she
for one instant meet with any impediment.

Every man held his breath, and looked with an anxious glance ahead. On
either side, the water came dancing up and lapping over the gunnel, and
beyond, the heads of the black rocks appeared amidst the frothy cauldron
through which they sailed. Now the side of the boat almost grazed a
rock, which, had she struck, would have sent her into a thousand
splinters. A short distance more and they would be safe. The _Zoe_ had
observed them, and was standing towards them to render them assistance.
Even their enemies forbore to fire, so perilous was their situation, and
so certain appeared their destruction. On they rushed.

"I can see no passage," exclaimed the man in the bows. "We are all
lost! Ah, no! Starboard the helm--starboard! Haul off the sheet a
little! Up with the helm again! Ease off the sheet. Huzza! huzza! We
are safe!"

The last great danger was past; a bend in the channel had been
discovered, through which the boat glided; and now she floated in clear
water, and held her rapid course towards the mistico. No sooner was the
chief on board the _Zoe_, than the helm was put up, and off she ran
under all sail, with her head to the island of Lissa.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

Doubtless, the reader will be anxious to hear by what wonderful event
Colonel Gauntlett and his man, Mitchell, had escaped from the death they
were supposed to have suffered, and whether poor Bowse, and any of the
survivors of his crew, had been equally fortunate; but, as I have matter
of still more importance to communicate in this chapter, I must entreat
him to have patience till I can return to that part of my history. We
left the old pirate, Vlacco, on his way, by Nina's directions, to give
his assistance to any who might have survived the wreck of the Greek
mistico. He had no particular wish to turn philanthropist in his old
age, so he went rather in a sulky humour, as he would very much rather
have knocked them on the head than have had, not only to save their
lives, but to refrain from touching any of their property. The orders
of his chief's lady were, however, not to be disobeyed; so he and his
companions hurried on as fast as they could go with the rope and spars
they had with them.

"Ah! there she drives," he muttered. "She might just as well have come
on shore here, and saved me the trouble of going so far. The boat is
well handled though, and her crew