ight, at all events; but I
cannot let them go free to betray me and my followers to our enemies,"
he answered. "Vlacco, there are, I think, some chambers beneath this
tower, and formerly used as dungeons, which may again serve the purpose
when cleared out of rubbish. They will not be able easily to escape
from thence; and, meantime, place a strong guard upon them in the
basement story, and see that they hold communication with no one."

The old pirate, with an angry look, showed the disappointment he felt at
not being allowed to dispense summary justice to the prisoners,
signified to his chief that his orders should be strictly obeyed; and,
just as matters had been brought into this state, the messenger, who had
been sent to bring up the prisoners and Signor Paolo, returned with the
announcement that none of them were to be found. The old fisherman
accompanied them, with great dismay in his looks, asserting that he had
nothing at all to do with the matter. He had but one instant returned
to his cottage, after having assisted in the endeavours to extinguish
the fire; he found the door open, and some one had apparently been
placed on the mats, which served as his bed, for there was some blood on
them, and some pieces of linen and lint lying about, and that was all he
knew. He had not spoken to, nor seen Signor Paolo that night. Zappa's
anger was very great at hearing this, and he was very nearly revoking
the reprieve he had granted to the other prisoners. He believed that
treachery had been practised, though, except Paolo and Nina, he knew not
whom to suspect; and, while she denied all knowledge of the event, her
brother was nowhere to be found; so, weary as he was, he set off with
Vlacco and his officers to investigate the matter at the bay.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

Left at liberty, Nina and Ada returned to the upper chamber of the
tower, where the latter entreated the unhappy Italian girl to allow her
to dress the wound in her shoulder, which was far deeper and more
serious than she had acknowledged to Zappa; but she refused all
assistance.

"No," she said; "no hand but mine shall tend the wound which he has
given; and it matters but little, for I feel that the clouds of my
destiny are gathering over me, and that very soon the storm will burst
to overwhelm me."

But her will was more powerful than her frame, and as she spoke she sank
down on the divan, and would have fallen to the ground, had not Ada and