ime, with the light tread of a seaman; and on the
summit a door stood open, a bright gleam of light streaming through it.
A female figure stood in the centre of the apartment. He would have
known her among a thousand. She sprang forward to meet him, and in
another instant Ada Garden was clasped in her lover's arms. For some
minutes the hearts of both were too full to allow them to speak, and joy
such as is experienced but seldom in the life of any, and by many never,
was their predominant feeling. How much of the precious time allowed
them to be together they had thus spent, I do not know, when Marianna,
who had been standing retired in a corner of the room, thought it
incumbent on her to make her appearance, and embracing Fleetwood's knees
in her delight, she poured out a torrent of thanks to him for his having
come to rescue them. However much they might have wished the good
little girl anywhere but where she was, her presence was very useful to
them, as it sobered Fleetwood down to the things of this world; and
reminded him that he had all his plans and arrangements to explain to
his mistress, and numerous directions to give her for her guidance. Ada
also was recalled to her present position, and as the first ecstasies of
her joy subsided, fears for her lover's safety took possession of her
mind.

"Oh! Fleetwood," she exclaimed; "you have risked your liberty and your
life for my sake; and I fear the treacherous and fierce man who brought
me here will wreak his vengeance on your head, when he finds himself
disappointed in obtaining a large ransom for me--his object, I expect,
in carrying me off."

"But, my sweet Ada, I do not intend to give him the power of so doing,"
returned Fleetwood. "We have stanch friends to assist us, and our
arrangements are excellent, so that provided we are not suspected we
have every chance of success."

"I will not then, Fleetwood, damp your generous energy with my own,
perhaps too weak, fears," answered Ada. "But I am ready to do whatever
you think best."

"That is my own brave girl," said Fleetwood, pressing her to his heart.
"We must succeed; and now, Ada, listen to what I have to tell you."

"I will--but first tell me, for I have been undutiful in not asking
before, have any tidings been received of my poor uncle, and the brave
crew of the _Zodiac_?"

"Your uncle is safe on board the _Ione_, and our good friend Bowse is
one of the companions of my adventure," replied Fl