e dreadful thought would occur to her, that even her life would not be
safe, if it stood between him and his wishes; and yet, woman-like, she
still loved on. She tried to shut her eyes to his faults, to forget his
unkindness, and to discover only the noble qualities she at first
believed he possessed. Though she feared Ada, she could not hate her;
and would not have harmed her, now that she felt sure she would never
consent to become the pirate's bride should she die, much less his
mistress; but she was not the less anxious for her departure, and
proportionably grieved when she heard that she was once more a prisoner
in the island. With natural jealousy, when Zappa spoke of obtaining a
ransom for Ada, she had endeavoured to ascertain what steps he had
taken, for the purpose of arranging it; and by no means could she learn
that he had even made any attempts to open negotiations on the subject
with any persons at Malta, or elsewhere; and this confirmed her in her
fears that this was simply a pretext to weary out his prisoner, and to
reconcile her to her fate. She was certain, also, that Captain
Fleetwood could have heard nothing on the subject; as he would, she
thought, have preferred so safe a way of recovering her, instead of the
dangerous one he had attempted. Such were the subjects which occupied
her mind, as she walked down the ravine to meet her rival. In the
meantime, Ada had watched, with an anxiety scarcely describable, for the
return of Raby; every instant expecting to have the pirates come back;
and to have her lover dragged roughly from her; and to have to run the
risk either of betraying him, or of allowing him to perish without
assistance.

At last Jack arrived, followed at an interval by Paolo.

"Signora," he said, "I have come to take charge of a man I hear is
sorely wounded. Do not doubt me; I repeat the oath I have given my
sister, that I will, to the best of my abilities, endeavour to restore
him to health, and if an occasion occurs, to aid in his escape from
hence. I ask--I look for no reward."

"I trust you, signor," replied Ada, giving him her hand. "You could not
commit so black an act as to deceive me, and now, oh! hasten to put your
good intentions into execution."

On this Paolo told her of the fisherman's hut, to which he purposed to
convey Captain Fleetwood, and hurried off to summon the old man. He
soon returned, stating that he was from home, and as no time was to be
lost, he pr