_Ypsilante_ will know what direction the _Sea
Hawk_ has taken, and be able to direct us in the pursuit. Before,
however, he could return to his ship, he had numerous important duties
to perform as leader of the expedition, and, indeed, from the firing
which still continued on the heights, he saw that even the fort was not
yet entirely their own.

For him the great object of the enterprise had failed, totally,
miserably failed. Not only was Ada Garden again lost, but she would
certainly be placed in a position infinitely worse than that in which
she had hitherto been. He scarcely dared to think what act the pirate
might commit, now that he was driven to desperation; she had no longer
her attendant with her, and the Signora Nina might have lost the little
influence over him she had before possessed. He bitterly cursed the
mistake he had made in not dispatching one at least of the British ships
round to assist the _Ypsilante_ in blockading the entrance; but he
checked himself, as it occurred to him that, had he done so, Ada might
have been placed in still greater peril, as Zappa might still have
attempted to carry her off, and, on finding himself completely
entrapped, without a hope of escape, might have blown up the _Sea Hawk_,
with all on board her, and he remembered the principle which had often
sustained him through adversity and sorrow, though he could not accuse
himself of having, through his own conduct, brought on the misfortune,
or the cause of grief, that Heaven ordains everything for the best, and
that it is impious to repine at its decrees. With a far different
feeling did he climb up the path than that with which he had rushed down
it, and though his spirits, disappointed and agitated as he was, did not
fail him, his bodily strength almost did, and, had it not been for
Small, he would scarcely have accomplished the undertaking against the
fierce gale which was blowing down the ravine.

As they climbed up, the occasional roar of the big guns, and the rattle
of musketry, was still heard, and on the summit a sight met his view
which he had scarcely expected, and which grieved him sorely. Some of
the huts I mentioned as having been built to contain the pirates'
provisions and other stores, had caught fire, and lighted up the whole
scene. Hedged up on the outer promontory were the band of islanders,
under old Vlacco, who, without the remotest prospect of victory or
escape, yet refused to yield or ask for q