stance was of great advantage to Ada, as the lively conversation
of the young midshipman, whose buoyancy of spirit nothing could damp,
served to divert her mind from dwelling on the dangers of the attempt
about to be made to rescue her; and she was also able to learn from him
many of the events with which the reader is acquainted but of which she
had hitherto, of course, remained in ignorance.

While what we have been describing took place, the _Zoe_ was drawing
rapidly in with the land. The breeze was fair to carry her close to the
harbour's mouth, and then, having sufficient way on her, down came her
two tapering lateen sails, and she glided up to her well-known
anchorage. She was instantly surrounded with boats full of people,
anxious to know what adventures she had met with during her brief
cruise, and how she had weathered the storm the previous day. They soon
came back, and it was speedily noised abroad that some event of
importance had occurred, and much bustle and discussion took place in
consequence. Two wounded men were conveyed on shore to their own
cottages, or rather huts, and messengers were forthwith despatched in
search of Signor Paolo, to bring him to attend on them, for he was
nowhere to be found among the crowd on the shores of the bay.

Zappa himself was next seen to step into his boat, when the musicians
began to play their most lively airs, the dancers to dance their best,
and those who had firearms, to discharge them in his honour; the sharp
report, for they were all loaded with ball, echoing from cliff to cliff
around the bay. He stepped on shore with a brow less calm and a smile
less sweet than usual, and returned the salutations of his followers in
a manner less courteous than his wont, as he hurried on towards the
entrance of the ravine leading up to his abode. He stopped short on his
way, for his eye fell on Nina and Ada standing close together, and
talking like two friends long acquainted. He was much puzzled. He had
only been absent two days, and he was not aware that either of them knew
of the other's existence; though as it was no longer important,
according to his present policy, to keep them apart, the meeting did not
matter; and he little knew how soon similarity of misfortune makes
brothers and sisters of us all. He looked up, and made a bow to them as
he passed; but he paid them no further attention, and taking Vlacco's
arm, he led him up the ravine.

Poor Nina's heart san