rength; hope and fear
rose alternately in her bosom, yet she was sure she was not mistaken.
Notwithstanding the disguise, the dark-stained skin, she was as certain
nearly as of her own existence, that she beheld Charles Fleetwood. Love
cannot be mistaken. And yet his air and walk were not as usual; the
independent, buoyant step was not there, the free, bold carriage of the
gallant sailor was gone, and he seemed to drag on his steps as if weary
of life, instead of being engaged in an expedition, which she well knew
must be to rescue her. She had loved him before, but as she now saw him
risking his liberty and his life for her, all the tenderest feelings of
a woman's nature gushed forth, and she longed to rush into his arms to
tell him of her gratitude, and deep, undying devotion. She longed to
call him to make him look up, to soothe his heart by letting him know of
her safety; but prudence restrained her; she felt that the slightest
sign of recognition might prove his destruction, and she endeavoured to
conceal her feelings even from him. But the quick glance of the young
Italian soon discovered that she was suffering from some powerful
emotion, and the direction of her eyes betrayed the cause. She at once
saw that there was some one she knew, but as Ada said nothing, she
thought it kinder not to utter her suspicions.

"I shall soon discover when I see them together," she said, mentally.
"And I will not agitate her by asking her questions."

In her heart of hearts, Nina hoped that the strangers would be able to
assist Ada in her flight, for though she felt herself attracted to the
beautiful stranger, she was not the less anxious to get her safe out of
the island.

Nina accordingly rose to take her departure, observing that the storm
was over, and that she must hasten to make arrangements about the
shipwrecked strangers, and to send for her brother to aid her, as they
were not likely to receive much assistance or commiseration from Vlacco.
She looked attentively at Ada as she said this, and the expression of
thankfulness which she saw on her countenance convinced her still more
that she was right in her conjectures.

As soon as the shipwrecked seamen found themselves alone, the one who
had hitherto appeared of the least importance, and had been seen to put
on so dejected an air, on hearing that they were to be conducted into
the presence of the chief's wife, was now evidently considered by the
rest as their lead