"

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

Several days had passed, and the _Sea Hawk_ was still among the
clustering islands of the Archipelago. Twice she had attempted to
escape from them on her voyage to Cephalonia; but each time she had been
driven back by the appearance of suspicious sails to the westward, which
her captain believed to be British men-of-war, cruising in search of
him.

Men were stationed all day and night on the yard-arms, and topmast-heads
to look out for the first faint outline of a ship; yet, not as before,
in the hopes of falling in with a richly-laden merchantman, but for the
purpose of avoiding her, lest she should prove to be one of the many
enemies on the watch to destroy them. The wind also no longer favoured
them, but shifting to the westward, had aided to baffle them in their
efforts to escape. Zappa prayed again for the gale, which had so
opportunely arisen to enable him to force his way out of the harbour of
Lissa; but now when he equally needed it, and had no evil purpose in
view, when better intentions had been formed and better feelings had
arisen, it refused to blow. Either contrary winds or calms had always
been met with, and till he had a prospect of a quick run, it would be
folly to venture out from amid the islets, which now sheltered him. He
was afraid of anchoring, or of remaining off any place for an hour
together, lest an enemy should suddenly appear and give him no time to
make sail to escape. He seldom went below, but wrapped in his cloak he
threw himself on the deck, when weary nature required rest, to be ready
at a moment's call. His days and nights were full of toil, care, and
watchfulness, and thus the time wore on. It was a lovely day; the sky
was of the most intense blue, without a cloud or speck to dim its
brilliancy; the sea calm as a mirror, and reflecting the hue of the
bright canopy above, was of so crystal a clearness that the eye seemed
capable of piercing to its very lowest depths; the sun shone forth with
glowing splendour, and the wind of the gentle zephyr, which came from
the west, blew with a balmy softness, incapable of ruffling the water,
or of forcing through it the pirate brig. Her sails, spread to catch
the first breath of a stronger breeze, now hung almost idle from the
yards, or ever and anon gave a loud flap of impatience against the
masts.

Blue islands rose out of the water on every side of the ship; some
extending a considerable distance alon