the helmsman or sail
trimmers, who were at their stations ready for any emergency; but though
every sail, to her royals, were set, with that light wind, a few hands
only were required to box about the yards, as it became necessary to
keep the vessel away, or haul her more up, to avoid the rocks and shoals
as they presented themselves.

Looking at that beautiful fabric, as she floated proudly on the waters,
and observing the skill with which she was handled, it was difficult to
suppose that danger of any kind, beyond what I have mentioned, could
menace her.

Zappa himself felt secure, for he knew that none of his enemies could
here approach him unawares; or, if they daringly ventured into that
labyrinth of dangers, he could easily elude them, or entice them to
their destruction. However, a strict look out for the appearance of any
sail was, as usual, kept; but all his attention was occupied in conning
the vessel through the intricate passage he had selected, in order thus
to make some progress on his voyage.

"If this dreadful state of uncertainty endure much longer, I feel that
it will kill me," said Nina, taking Ada's hand, and looking into her
face, as if to read the effect her words produced. Her dim, sunken eye,
and the hectic spot on her faded cheek, gave sad token that her words
were too likely to be fulfilled. "For your sake, dear friend, I will
try to live, and for his sake also. I would not quit him, even for
another and a better world, till I was assured that he had forsaken the
sinful and dangerous path he has, alas, so long followed. It is an
awful thing to think that he whom one loves, better far than one's-self,
may be speedily hurried to his eternal doom, without a prayer for
forgiveness--a hope in the future. I would not be separated from him,
and yet I dare not wish to bear him company; though I feel that, black
as are his crimes, my guilt is even greater. I deserted a fond father--
I broke his heart, Ada, and can such a one as I hope for Heaven? Will
the suffering, the agony of heart, I have endured, be any atonement in
the sight of God? Oh, promise me, Ada, that should death claim me as
his own, you will strive, by every means in your power, to lead him back
to virtue--to preserve him from the ignominy, the punishment which, even
I acknowledge, he has deserved at the hands of his fellow-men."

Ada Garden roused herself from her own despondency, to soothe the
feelings of her friend. She