the cliff; and it was while they were so doing that
Vlacco showed himself. He went to the lowest part of the cliff, and
beckoned to them to come under it, and then driving two of the spars
into the ground, he made a rope fast to them, and lowered it over the
cliff. It was immediately seized by the boy, who, with the agility of a
monkey, commenced hauling himself up by it, towards the summit. It was
nervous work to see him now swinging in the air, now placing his feet on
the narrow ledges of the rock, and thus making play for a few yards to
rest his arms. At last, he stood safely at the top, and taking off his
cap, cheered to his companions to follow his example.

"Many thanks, signor," he said, addressing Vlacco in a language which
sounded something like Maltese, to which nation he apparently belonged,
by his dress and the excessively dark hue of his skin.

One after the other followed, till the whole crew were safely landed.

They were all dressed as Maltese; but one of them addressed Vlacco in
Romaic, and said--

"He and his shipmates had to thank him for the assistance he had
afforded them. If our master was here, he would thank you, too; but,
poor fellow, he and the mate were washed overboard, and we now know not
where we have got to, or where to go. We must get you and your friends
on shore here to aid us in getting our vessel afloat, and we must then
try to find our way back to Malta."

"You'll not find that so easy," muttered the old pirate. "But how came
you to hit the bay in the clever way you did? No one could have done it
better who knows the island well."

"Our good luck served us, and our prayers to the saints wore
efficacious," returned the Maltese. "We did not expect to succeed so
well, I can assure you."

"Some people are not born to be drowned," muttered, in a gruff voice,
the old pirate, who, since he had given up robbing on his own account,
had no further fears on the score of the alternative generally
mentioned. "You're in luck, I say; and since you happen not to be food
for fishes, as I expected you would be by this time, I must tell you,
that I have orders to bring you into the presence of the chief lady of
this island, by whose directions I came all this way to try and save
your lives, for I should not have taken so much trouble of my own
accord, I can tell you."

"The chief lady of the island," repeated the Maltese, who saw that it
would be folly to take notice of the rude tone