scover no
means by which he could open it. He then went under the window, and, in
vain, tried to attract the attention of the inmates. They were,
apparently, too busily employed within. At last, he threw up some small
stones, and after numerous efforts, one entered the casement.

"Who's there?" said a voice, which he recognised as Raby's.

"_Ione_" replied the captain, in a loud whisper.

"Is it you, sir?" exclaimed the midshipman, to whom the answer was
familiar. "I'll be down at the door directly."

And Fleetwood heard him hurriedly descending the steps.

"You are much sooner than we expected, sir," said the lad through the
chinks of the door. "Can you open the door from the outside?"

"No; can you open it from within?" asked Fleetwood on return.

"No, sir," said the midshipman; "I tried for a whole hour to pick the
lock, but could not do it; so I have fitted a chair, strengthened with
some ropes which came with Miss Garden's baggage, and there will be no
more difficulty in getting down from the tower than from the deck of a
frigate."

"You have done admirably," replied Fleetwood. "I will not stop to thank
you,--but tell Miss Garden everything is going on well--and I will
return in an hour."

The adventurers had some difficulty in picking their way among the rocks
to the little bay where the mistico lay on the sand; but they succeeded
in reaching it without encountering any one; and, as they had discovered
the means of descending to it in the morning by the secret path I
mentioned, leading through the cavern, they easily got down. They found
that the vessel had not been disturbed--indeed, old Vlacco, having
claimed her for their chief, no one would have ventured to take anything
from her. They were thus not only able to procure the rope and blocks,
but to provide themselves with some arms they had stowed away where they
had not been discovered; and some provisions which, should they miss the
_Ione's_ boats, might be very important. Although, from the peculiar
rig of the mistico, her halyards were too short to be of any service,
and her sheets too thick, a coil of small rope was found of sufficient
length for the purpose; and, loaded with their treasures, they bade
farewell to the little craft which had served them in such good stead.

"I should like to burn her, to prevent the rascals benefiting by her,"
said Captain Vassilato, as they walked along the sand to the entrance of
the cave. "But, as th