suffered, probably, as much
as any one of our characters. We refer to Maud Leonardo. She had found
lodgings in an obscure residence in the town during the course of the
trial, and had resolved to remain until the sentence was given (of the
result of which no one doubted), and even until the detail of that
sentence should be executed, which she had already, learned would
doubtless be death by hanging at the yard-arm of the ship in which he
was confined. Poor girl! it was sad to think that she could gloat over
this anticipated result--such was the power of her revenge.

But in the same ratio to the intensity of her secret satisfaction at the
hoped-for execution of Captain Will Ratlin, whom she had once loved, but
now so bitterly hated, was her disappointment, vexation, and
uncontrollable anger, at the idea of his escape, of which she was one of
the first to learn.

Captain Robert Bramble, though he did not attempt to find his brother,
would hardly have believed that he would remain openly in town, and at
the mission-house; but Maud reasoned more truly. It was the first
thought that entered her head that he had probably gone thither to be
near and with Helen Huntington, and thither she stealthily crept, and
watched until she saw him, and thus satisfied herself. Knowing nothing
of the discovery that had been made, she hastened to give information to
Captain Bramble, supposing that he would take steps for his immediate
arrest; but in this she was disappointed.

She could not understand the apathy which seemed to have come over the
English officer who so lately had thirsted for the young commander's
blood, and she went away from him amazed and dejected. In vain, thus
far, had her attempts resulted as to sacrificing him whom she so
bitterly despised. She had trusted to others thus far--this she said to
herself, as she mused at the fruitless attempts she had been engaged
in--now she would trust to herself. But how to do it she hardly knew.
When he was under her father's roof, and she unsuspected of hostility to
him, it would have been an easy matter, with her knowledge of poisons,
to have sacrificed his life; but now it was not so very easy for her to
find an opportunity for any sort of approach to him. But this seemed her
last and only resource of vengeance, and she cared to live only to
consummate it.

Actually afraid to bring his brother again to trial, for fear of a
personal exposure, Captain Robert Bramble was now in a