as he was able to grasp his sword, have
attempted the exploit with his own ship's company, whom he well knew
would be ready to follow him; but he was unwilling to risk the lives of
his gallant fellows on so very hazardous an expedition--especially after
the sad lesson he had lately experienced--and the suffering, if not the
destruction, to which he had subjected his brave companions.

Were he to make the attack and fail, he also thought the result would be
too dreadful to contemplate; so he curbed his impatience as he was best
able, till he could collect a sufficient force to enable him to
undertake it with a certainty of success. He tried also to console
himself with the hopes that the Signora Nina and her brother would
protect Ada to the utmost of their power. Raby, wisely, had not told
him his suspicions of Paolo--and, of course, he was ignorant of the
events which had occurred in the island after he had been carried off,
or he would certainly have been even less at his ease than he
endeavoured to make himself.

"What do you make her out to be?" he inquired of Mr Saltwell, who had
just descended from aloft, with his spy-glass over his shoulder.

"English, I think, sir. I could see to the head of her courses, and, I
should not be surprised, from the look of her canvas, that she is the
_Vesta_ frigate, which was to be cruising somewhere off the Gulf of
Egina."

"I trust she may be. Captain Grantham is an old friend of mine, and I
know that if he received my letter he would come, if he possibly could;
and welcome he will be; for, though the _Vesta_ is but an
eight-and-twenty, we may do without further aid."

Sail after sail of the stranger rose out of the blue water, till a
towering mass of snow-white canvas floated above it, shining brilliantly
in the rays of the forenoon sun, which fell directly on it. At last,
the dark hull and bow ports, and even the thin line of glowing copper
below the bends, could be perceived, and little doubt remained of the
identity of the ship in sight; though, from her position, her signals
could not be perceived. Had it been war time, the _Ione_ would not have
allowed a ship, so far her superior in size, to approach, without
greater caution in ascertaining her nation; but, as it was, there was no
danger of her proving an enemy, and, at the worst, she could be but a
neutral.

While the matter was still in doubt, another sail was seen astern of
her, standing in the same direction