Ada had been afraid of leaving her seat, for she saw the risk to which
all were exposed by the struggle, and that the weight of another person
thrown on the spot might complete the catastrophe, though her agitation
was scarcely inferior to that exhibited by Nina.

"Stay, stay, signor," she exclaimed--"before you commit the impious deed
you threaten, listen to me. You would seek a certain death, and certain
punishment in another world, to avoid the risk you run of meeting it at
the hands of my countrymen in this--now listen to me. I have already
promised Nina to intercede in your behalf, and I now solemnly vow to you
to employ every means in my power to preserve your life, and I feel
almost certain of success. A petition made by me under the
circumstances of the case will, I am confident, be attended to, and you
may yet enjoy many years of happiness with one who is so well able to
afford it you."

"Lady," said Zappa, "again you have conquered me. Unworthy as I am to
live, I accept life at your hands, and confide in your promise, though
something tells me it will avail me but little. Nina, you need not thus
so fearfully clasp my arm. I will not attempt to escape you, girl."

As he said this, he allowed himself to be led forward by Nina, and sat
himself down on a chest, where he remained for some minutes with his
face buried in his hands, and bent down on his knees. Paolo steered as
he had been directed, and as the raft had for some time passed all the
rocks and shoals to be feared, the task was not difficult. Ada,
meantime, watched anxiously, the approach of the English brig; but the
wind, she thought, was lighter than it had been, for the distance
between them did not appear to decrease so rapidly as at first, and as
she looked alternately from the brig to the shore, she thought that
there was more than a probability of their reaching it before they were
overtaken. The pirate seemed indifferent to his fate, but he was once
more aroused to exertion by a shout from his men, and guided by what
they said, he turned his eyes towards the shore, whence, from behind the
headland towards which they were steering, the long low hull of a
mistico was seen stealing forth, with her pointed lateen sails hauled
close on a wind.

"The _Zoe_, the _Zoe_," shouted the pirates. "Our comrades come to our
assistance."

There could be little doubt that the mistico in sight was the _Zoe_.

"But is she manned by our friends?" tho