endeavoured to persuade her that her
prognostications regarding her own death were probably groundless; and
though she did not seek to lessen her horror of the crime she had
committed, she pointed out to her the merciful promises held forth in
the sacred writings, that her repentance was of more value than her
sufferings; that the latter was sent by a kind Heaven to produce the
former feeling, and that, trusting in Him who died for all, she might
hope confidently for pardon, and remission of her sins. She assured her
of her own belief, that Heaven is not deaf to those who pray that those
they love may be made to repent; and she entreated her, if on that
account alone, to live for her husband's sake.

"And, Nina," she continued, "what a weak girl--what one situated as I am
can do, I will do for your husband; and more, I will entreat Captain
Fleetwood, not only to save him from punishment, but to use every means
in order to persuade him to repent of the past, and to follow a noble
and virtuous course of life."

In this manner the two lovely girls had conversed for some time in tones
not above a whisper, lest it should be heard by him whom it most
concerned, when an exclamation of terror escaped the lips of Nina, and,
seizing Ada's arm with a convulsive grasp, she pointed over the larboard
side of the vessel, where a sight met their view, which was, indeed,
sufficient to make the stoutest heart quail.

Meantime the captain stood near the weather gangway, directing, as I
said, the course of the vessel, with his first mate by his side, whom he
had called to him to point out the danger yet to be passed; while, as a
precautionary, and, indeed, usual measure on such occasions, hands were
stationed at the jib-boom end, and at the weather foreyard-arm, to give
timely notice of any rocks which might lie in their course beneath the
water, from the beautiful clearness of which they were discernable, even
though many feet from the surface, at a considerable distance. The
brig's head was to the southward, and all eyes were thus turned to
windward, or in the direction towards which she was drifting with the
current, and no one thought of looking on the lee side, from which no
possible danger was apprehended.

"We have done well to come here, Baldo," observed Zappa to his mate.
"We are here far more secure than in any harbour in the world; for no
one but a mariner of our own islands would venture his ship among these
reefs. See y