is discovered, and that his death would
certainly be avenged?" exclaimed the colonel. "Poor fellow! and my
little niece--if the poor girl ever escapes from that infernal den--I'm
afraid she will never recover it."

"I own, I fear for the worst," said Saltwell, who was weary, and out of
spirits. "Zappa knows well enough that he has deserved a rope, and,
from what I hear, he is the sort of character to win it thoroughly; but
we must do our best to punish him. As soon as the boats come back, I
intend to give Tompion a fresh crew, and to leave him in the cutter,
well armed and provisioned, to watch the island, while we go in search
of the _Ypsilante_; and, as Captain Vassilato left her under my orders,
I shall send her off with a requisition to any of our cruisers she can
fall in with, to assemble at an island to the southward of this; and I
have not the slightest doubt, that any captain, who happens to be senior
officer, when he hears of what has occurred, will take the
responsibility of ordering a grand attack on the island. If not, we
will, by Heaven, try what our own brave fellows and the crew of the
_Ypsilante_ can do to rescue their captain, or avenge their deaths."

"Bravo, Mr Saltwell, I am rejoiced to hear you say this," exclaimed the
colonel, warmly grasping the lieutenant's hand. "And I and Mitchell
will act as volunteers with the marines. I wish we had done this at
first. A strong hand and a firm heart, are the best things to trust to.
I never liked the plan poor Fleetwood has pursued, from the first.
Your plots and your disguises seldom succeed; and they are not fit for
Englishmen to engage in--they are contrary to the genius of our country,
thank Heaven; but that Greek friend of his over-persuaded him, and, I am
afraid, has led him to his destruction."

"I wish that I could say, sir, that I thought all had gone well,"
returned Saltwell. "However, we must now do our best to mend matters.
Well, doctor, what report can you make of poor Linton?" he asked of the
surgeon, who just then appeared on deck.

"I have extracted the ball, and he has recovered his senses," answered
the surgeon. "He is in very great danger; but I can give no decided
opinion as yet. He has expressed a wish to see you, and has begged me
to call you."

"Poor, poor fellow, I'll go below instantly," cried Saltwell, hurrying
down, and auguring the worst from the doctor's tone.

He found Linton stretched out in his narrow berth, lig