sprang the light-hearted youth down the hill, and, getting back
to his companions, he appeared to be pointing out to them his
newly-found sister, and to be expressing, with animated gestures, his
delight at the discovery.

"It's all right, sir," he whispered to his captain; "Miss Garden isn't a
bit afraid, and will have a line ready to haul up a rope to her window,
if she cannot get out any other way. What shall I do now, sir?"

"Go back to your sister and try and learn where the chief pirate has
been, and gain any other information which may be useful," replied
Fleetwood. "Perhaps you will be allowed to remain altogether with her,
and if you can, do so; for you will be of the greatest service in
assisting Miss Garden to escape from the tower."

"With all my heart, sir. Would it be proper to give Miss Smaitch any
more kisses? It seems to please her," said the midshipman, with
apparent innocence, just as he was running off.

"Perfectly unnecessary, I should think," replied Fleetwood, almost
laughing at the mid's pretended simplicity, which, having held the same
irresponsible rank himself, he could fully appreciate. "You may overact
your part."

"No fear, sir--I'll be decorous in the extreme, and if you don't see me
again, suppose all goes right; I'll get shut up in Miss Garden's tower,
if I possibly can."

He did not wait for further directions, but scrambled up the cliff again
to where Marianna was standing, who, supposing that she was to receive
him as before, threw her arms round his neck and paid him off in his own
coin.

Nina, whether she believed in the relationship or not, took good care to
explain to the bystanders that the Maltese attendant had found a brother
among the shipwrecked crew of the mistico, and it all seemed so natural,
that no one doubted the statement. Even old Vlacco, who was generally
so wide awake that, in his own opinion, no one could take him in, was
completely deceived, and threw no difficulties in the way of Jack Raby's
accompanying Ada to the tower, when Nina requested that the brother and
sister might not be parted.

As Jack was very small for his age, he looked much younger than he
really was, and the old pirate, considering him a mere child, thought he
could do no harm, at all events; and should it be necessary to cut the
throats of the rest of the party, to ensure their not escaping, it might
be as well to save him, to make him a servant to the English lady. This
circum