he made use of an equally elegant expression
answering to the above in the Romaic.

"We must adhere firmly to our story," said Captain Vassilato, as they
followed the pirate. "But I wonder whether, among his other
accomplishments, our friend Zappa understands Maltese; if so, you,
Pietro, must act as spokesman, and remember, the more dull and stupid
you appear, the better. If, however, we find he does not, I must
continue to play the interpreter. It will be dangerous, however, to
speak English in his presence, for depend upon it he knows the sound of
the language too well to be deceived."

"Your caution is very important," observed Fleetwood. "Mr Bowse and I
will keep in the back ground, and be silent; and do you, Pietro, put
yourself forward, and answer all questions put to us, if he speaks your
native tongue; but if he talks Greek, Captain Vassilato will do so."

It would be absurd to say that the whole party did not feel the full
danger of their position; but they were brave men, and had strung up
their nerves to encounter whatever might happen; the expected interview
they saw would prove as critical as any part of their adventure, and
they were accordingly proportionately anxious for the result. It was,
fortunately, perfectly dark by the time they reached the summit of the
cliff, and old Vlacco led them to the building they had inhabited on the
previous night.

"There, go in, and I will inform our chief that you are come," he said,
pointing to their room. "In the mean time, some supper, I suppose,
won't come amiss; and if he should not wish to see you this evening, the
eating it will do to pass the time till you go to sleep."

They were agreeably surprised to see little Mila and an old woman, who
had before attended on them, enter with a supply of provisions, to which
they did as much justice as they were able, and while they were
discussing them, Vlacco returned.

"Well, I told our chief that I believed you were as honest as most men,
and I don't think he'll trouble himself about you till to-morrow," he
observed, as he sat down at the table, and helped himself to a cup of
wine. "Let me tell you, if you were the rogues he first thought you
might be, he would have sent every one of you flying over the cliffs,
without the slightest ceremony."

The old pirate seemed in a facetious mood, and laughed, and drank, and
talked, in a way very different to what appeared to be his usual habit;
but it struck his g