n danger and in difficulty!" she exclaimed. "No,
no, I am not so light of feeling as to do that. Farewell, sweet lady.
You have loaded me with a debt of gratitude I cannot hope to repay."

She stooped as she spoke, and kissed Ada's brow, then sprang back
towards Zappa, who was stepping on board the mistico, for the pirates
loudly summoned him, and with good cause, for at that moment another
square-rigged vessel was seen coming round the east end of the island.
Nina was in time to clasp the pirate's arm.

"Oh, take me with you!" she cried. "Your lot I will share, your fate
shall be mine."

He clasped her round the waist, and seizing the stay of the mast, leaped
with her on board. Paolo stood irresolute a moment. He looked at Ada,
she turned her face from him. He saw his sister among the pirates. He
recollected his devoted love for her, and the sacrifice she had already
made, besides which he felt the hopelessness of his passion, and just as
the raft was being cast off, he followed her on board the mistico.

The next moment Ada Garden found herself the only occupant of the raft,
drifting on the face of the water.

CHAPTER FORTY.

The _Ione_ had in vain chased the _Sea Hawk_. She had examined every
island in her course, and searched in every bay and nook, and behind
every rock and headland, but the pirate still evaded her, till captain,
officers, and men were almost worn out with their labours. Fleetwood,
it may be supposed, did not save himself, and it could scarcely be
expected that he should allow his officers to do so; in truth, however,
every man and boy on board was almost as eager in the pursuit as he was,
and fatiguing as it was, never was any duty performed more willingly,
though, as they could relieve each other, they were not so much
exhausted with fatigue. Night and day he was on deck, and it was with
difficulty he could be persuaded to take any food or rest, expecting, as
he did, that the next few hours would place the _Sea Hawk_ in his power.
Thus day after day passed away. Sometimes a sail hove in sight, and
they stood after her in chase, but only to come up with her to find that
she was some English trader to the Bosphorus, or Greek man-of-war, of
perhaps little less doubtful character than the _Sea Hawk_ herself. The
inhabitants of the islands either knew nothing about her, or would give
no information, nor could any clue be obtained from any craft they fell
in with; so at last Captai