cast off the block, and then passed the
rope over the bar, and descended by it.

"I won't delay you a moment, Captain Fleetwood," he said. "But I am
determined the pirates shall not find out how we escaped, and, as there
is a cliff close here, which overhangs the sea, I will, with your leave,
heave the chair, and rope, and block, over it, and they will never
discover them there; or if they do, they will think that we got over the
cliffs."

As Fleetwood considered the delay would not be of consequence, and that
no harm could arise from allowing the midshipman to have his way, he
gave him leave to do as he proposed, and in two minutes he returned,
having accomplished his object.

"There, sir," he said, laughing quietly. "If the pirates miss one of
the chairs, they may look for it long enough before they find it or the
rope, and in the mean time they will fancy English young ladies can jump
forty feet to the ground without hurting themselves. When they try to
open the door, too, they'll think we are inside, for I barricadoed it
with everything I could find, and there'll be a pretty smash when they
shove it open."

"You have done admirably, and now take Marianna's arm, and follow me,"
said Fleetwood, leading the way with Ada.

When Ada Garden found herself once more by Fleetwood's side, she
returned her grateful thanks to Heaven for having thus restored her to
liberty; for so strong was her confidence in her lover's courage and
judgment, that she felt as if all difficulty and danger were over, and
that success must await them.

Fleetwood also uttered a silent thanksgiving to Heaven, and a prayer for
protection during the still greater danger he knew they must encounter
in their endeavour to get out of the harbour; but, of course, he did not
tell her this. Neither spoke; they both were confident of the
sentiments of each other's heart, and Ada felt it would be useless at
that moment to express her gratitude, when she hoped to prove it during
the remainder of her life; and he in like manner knew that there would
be no necessity to tell her of his love and joy at finding her, when his
acts were giving her such convincing evidence of it. They walked on
under the shadow of the wall, as noiselessly and rapidly as they could
move, towards the commencement of the steep path leading down the
ravine. In doing so they had to pass close to Nina's tower. Fleetwood
looked up; no light was seen streaming from the casement,