antage to him,
but might cause great harm. It appeared to her an age since he left
her, and her anxiety became almost too great to be borne.

"Oh, Mr Raby, cannot you go up and see what has become of Captain
Fleetwood? Some accident has happened to him, I am certain," she
whispered to the midshipman.

"I must obey orders, Miss Garden, and wait for the captain's return,"
was the answer, in the same low tone. "You need not be alarmed, I can
assure you--he has not been gone two minutes."

He had scarcely spoken when Ada's quick ear caught the sound of
footsteps, and she could scarcely restrain her cry of joy, as she sprang
forward to meet him. He placed his arm tenderly round her to support
her, as he led her on.

"It is very extraordinary," he said; "I could find no one, though I
searched the very spot where I had seen him standing. But, come on,
dearest, we have time to reach the boat, and to get outside the harbour
before the spy, if such he was, can send people to pursue us."

"I am able to walk much faster," said Ada, hastening her steps, "I dread
any delay in this dreadful place."

They had not, however, proceeded many paces, when, on turning one of the
many angles of the winding path, a person, the same, they fancied, whom
they had before seen, appeared suddenly before them, and laid a hand on
Fleetwood's arm.

"Stay, signor," he said in a low, deep voice, speaking in the Italian
language. "You are already suspected by one who knows not mercy, and if
he were to discover your wild attempt to carry off that lady, your death
would be the consequence. Return and abandon it; for ere you can get
beyond the sound of the waves, as they dash on the cliffs below, you
will be pursued and overtaken."

"I know not who you are, signor," said Fleetwood; "but, as I believe
your warning is given in kindness, I thank you. To follow your advice
is impossible, and I must beg you, as a favour, not to detain us--I need
not ask you, I trust, not to betray us."

"I feel sure that Signor Montifalcone will not do so," exclaimed Ada,
recognising at once the voice of the young Italian. "He will rather
exert himself to assist us--I am not mistaken in his generosity."

Paolo was silent a minute, when, releasing his grasp of Fleetwood's arm,
he sighed as if his heart would break, and took Ada's hand. "Lady," he
said, in a tone of deep melancholy, "you sign my death-warrant; but it
shall not prevent me from obeying your wishe