CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
"And so, signora, you would show your gratitude for the attention andrespect with which I have treated you, by endeavouring to escape from mycare, and by bringing your countrymen to attempt my destruction."
These words, uttered in a deep, stern voice, were the first Ada heardwith sufficient distinctness to comprehend their meaning, since thetermination of the conflict, in which she had seen her lover, over whomshe still hung, cast down wounded by her side. The tone and accent toldher, too clearly, who was the speaker ere she raised her head, and,looking round, beheld the pirate Zappa, steering the boat. Whether ornot it was fancy, she could scarcely tell; but, as she gazed at himthrough the gloom, his dress appeared disordered, and stained withblood, and his countenance seemed to her to wear an expression even ofunusual ferocity. Dread, lest in his savage mood he should wreak hisvengeance on Fleetwood, kept her silent.
"Speak, signora," he repeated. "Why have you done this?"
"I have done nothing to injure you, nothing of which you have a right tocomplain," said Ada, lifting up her head, though still remaining on herknees by Fleetwood's side. "You unjustly deprived me of my liberty, andthat I have attempted to regain. Of no other crime towards you can youaccuse me."
She said this with as firm a voice as she could command, remembering theeffect her courage had had on the pirate, on a former occasion; and shenow felt that it was, if possible, of still greater importance to her toretain her presence of mind; not only her own life, but that ofFleetwood; might depend on her behaviour.
"But you are mistaken, signora. I accuse you of instigating somestrangers, to whom hospitality had been shown, to run off with theproperty of my people, and of inducing that unhappy youth, PaoloMontifalcone, treacherously, to assist in your flight," returned thepirate firmly. "I will not, however, barter words with you. If I andmy people escape from the attack your countrymen appear about to make onus, I may overlook your crime; but if any of them suffer through yourmeans, you shall not escape my vengeance."
"I am defenceless and in your power," replied Ada. "I repeat that Ihave not instigated my countrymen to attack you, and if you suffer, itis through no fault of mine. But if you add a cold-blooded murder toyour other crimes, you will bring down the vengeance of all civilisednations on your head, as instruments of the God whom you have offended."
"My resolution is fixed, signora. What I do depends on the result ofthis night's business," said the pirate, in the same stern voice; and,without paying her any further apparent attention, he urged on hispeople to renewed exertions at their oars.
This conversation took place exactly as the British boats were firstdiscovered through the darkness, coming up astern; and as they happenedto be just there in line, and looming large in the gloom, Zappa couldnot tell what force was now being brought against him; and it was thebelief that he was about to be attacked by overwhelming numbers, before,perhaps, he could get within shelter of the harbour, and makearrangements for his defence, which had stirred up all the devil withinhim. One of his remarks gave Ada some gleam of comfort, for it made herfancy that the pirate did not suspect that the wounded man at his feetwas Captain Fleetwood, the enemy from whom he had most to dread, and shehoped that he still believed him to be simply the Maltese sailor heappeared. Hope, however slight, will, as the light branch keeps adrowning man above the surface of the treacherous waters, support aperson amid present distress and difficulty, who would otherwise sinkoverwhelmed beneath them; and this idea, which had happily occurred toAda, prevented her giving way to the wretchedness she felt at thefailure of her lover's gallant attempt to rescue her, and the tooprobable destruction he had brought on himself and those associated withhim. The pirate every now and then turned his head to watch theadvancing boats, expecting them each instant to fire on him; but seeingthat they did not do so, he grew calmer as he approached the harbour,knowing that he should soon be in safety within it.
Though trembling lest her care should evince her interest in Fleetwood,Ada, as soon as Zappa's attention had been withdrawn from her, againemployed herself in endeavouring to staunch the blood which flowed fromhis wound. As she bent over him she found he breathed; and as she heldhis hand in hers, she felt that his pulse was still beating, though slowand faint. It had at last occurred to her, that it would be wiser tocall Marianna to her assistance, though, with the natural jealousy oflove, she was unwilling that any one but herself should tend, while shewas able, the object of her affection, but the poor girl was little in acondition to render her any aid; as, overcome with her fears, and thecontinued excitement in which she had been kept, she had gone off in afainting fit, from which she was only just recovering. She heard thevoice of her mistress, and it served to revive her, and raising herhead, she dragged herself towards her.
"Oh, holy Mary, and is the brave captain killed!" she exclaimed, as shesaw Fleetwood's rigid, death-like appearance, though the dark colourwith which his skin was tinged concealed the ghastly pallor of hiscountenance. "Oh, holy mother, is he dead?"
Ada grasped Marianna's arm, to make her keep silent, as shewhispered--"He is your countryman, a seaman of Malta. You must attendto him." And she trusted that Zappa had not overheard her maid'sindiscreet exclamation. Whether he had or not, his attention was againattracted towards them.
"You appear to take great interest in that wounded man, signora," heobserved, in a less angry tone than before.
"I do, signor," she replied, in a firm voice, without waiting for hissaying any thing further. "I perform but a woman's part towards awounded man, in endeavouring to alleviate his suffering. I do as Iwould towards any one in a like situation; and as I would towards you,were a shot, from the guns of my countrymen, this instant to lay youlow, and were I again carried into captivity by your orders. We aretaught by our religion, signor, not to distinguish our enemies from ourfriends, when they are in affliction." Ada made this last observationas the genuine feeling of her heart, without any hypocrisy, howeverexcusable some might think it, under the circumstances, and,doubtlessly, would have staunched the wounds of her greatest enemy, tothe best of her power, had she been called on to do so; though theanxiety and tenderness which animated her, as she watched overFleetwood, would have, of necessity, been wanting.
"Well, well, signora," returned Zappa. "You and your attendant arewelcome to do your best to prevent the man from dying, though hedeserves nothing at my hands; but whatever men may say of me, they shallnot justly accuse me of being a murderer in cold blood. Your countrymendo not appear to be in a fighting mood. Perhaps they are afraid offiring, lest they should hurt you. Is it not so, lady? I know more oftheir plans than you suspect. The expedition is led by the captain ofthe _Ione_, in person, and he was on the look out for you, when we soinopportunely came up, and spoilt your arrangements."
"Can it be so?" thought Ada. "Is he really ignorant that Fleetwood isclose to him? Alas, he may be deceiving me, and if I pretend to agreeto his assertions, he will but use it as a weapon against me. The rightand best plan is to refuse to give an opinion on the subject."
"I am your prisoner, signor," she said, aloud; "and as such I claimevery right to endeavour to escape as I best can. It would therefore befolly in me to acknowledge by what means I have communicated with mycountrymen, even if I had done as you suppose, lest you should preventmy doing so another time."
"_Per bacco_, you are a brave girl!" exclaimed the pirate, in a tone inwhich Ada felt that admiration was too much mingled with a familiarityshe had endeavoured to avoid. "I would rather be your friend than yourenemy, if you would let me. Faith, you deserve your liberty, oranything else that you desire; but it would tax my generosity too muchto give it to you."
What he said further, Ada did not hear; for the noise of the firing,which then commenced from the cliffs above, as well as from the boats,drowned his words. She trembled for the fate of the _Tone's_ crew, whowere coming to her assistance; for she was sufficiently acquainted withthe nature of military def
ences, to know the impracticable character ofthe harbour into which the pirates, she was afraid, would try to drawthem.
The firing increased; and she judged, by the gestures of the Greeks, whowere rowing, that her countrymen were close upon them. Again the hoperevived that, even then, Fleetwood might be rescued. The shouts of theBritish seamen rang in her ears. She could scarcely refrain from risingand waving to them to urge them on to the succour of their captain; but,just as she fancied they would be alongside, she saw the cliffs, at theentrance of the harbour, towering above her, and the boat shooting in;directly after, the _Sea Hawk_ opened her fire, and her ears weredeafened with the reverberating reports of the guns, and the shouts andshrieks of the pirates. The moment the boat touched the shore, Zappaand his companions sprang out, he shouting,--"To the castle--to thecastle! We will give them the guns as they retreat."
And Ada found herself left alone with Pietro and Marianna. In vain sheendeavoured to arouse her lover to a state of consciousness--the samefrightful torpor continued which the wound had caused; and her heartalmost broke with anguish, as she began to fear he might die before hecould receive any proper assistance.
"The pirate talks of his generosity. Would he allow him to be sent onboard the _Ione_ with a flag of truce?" she thought. "No, no; it werevain to hope it; and the very entreating him to do so would betrayCharles to him."
She then remembered the medical knowledge possessed by PaoloMontifalcone, and the great assistance he had been to her; but she hadno means of testing his surgical skill, though she understood that Zappahad, at first, detained him, that he might be useful to any of hisfollowers who were wounded--but then the idea occurred to her--though,perhaps, she did not express it in so many words,--"Can I trust him? Hehas confessed his unhappy attachment to me. I told him that, if noother circumstance prevented my marrying him, my heart was another's,and can I dare to place that favoured rival in his power? He is,apparently, generous, and possesses many excellent qualities; but he isan Italian; and if the tales I have heard of Italians are true, they areless scrupulous than other persons of ridding themselves of those theyhate. Perhaps he would not contemplate such a deed--he might nowshudder at the thought of it; but if the temptation were thrown in hisway, could he withstand it? I might, were I to trust him, be guilty ofmy Charles's death, and of causing that unhappy youth to commit amurder. Oh! God help me! What shall I do?"
Just then, some rapid steps were heard of a person running along thesands. They attracted the attention of Marianna, who had begun torecover from her fright; and looking over the side of the boat, shescreamed out,--"Is it you, Mr Raby? Oh, come here--come here! We wantyou very much."
She was right in her supposition; and the next instant the midshipmanhad sprung into the boat.
"What, Miss Garden! Are you left here alone? And, good heavens! isthat the captain?" he exclaimed, in a tone of voice which showed howdeeply he felt, joyous and careless as he was on ordinary occasions."Oh, Miss Garden, he is not dead!"
"I trust in Heaven he is not, Mr Raby," replied Ada. "He has beenstunned and severely wounded, and, had no one been with him, would havebled to death; even now, I know not what may happen if he does notspeedily receive assistance. Had we the strength to do so, we mightconvey him up to the tower, where I suppose I shall be again shut up,and his wounds might thus be properly dressed."
"I am afraid that you, and Marianna, and I, should never be able tocarry him all that way without hurting him," returned Jack Raby. "If Icould find our companions, we could easily do it; but I don't know whatbecame of them. I was dragged into a boat by myself, and knocked down,and told to be quiet; out, as soon as we got in here, the rascals wentoff to man their guns, and quite forgot me, I suppose; so, directly Ifound that they were gone, I felt to see if my head was hurt, andfeeling it all right, I jumped out and set off, determined to try andfind out what had become of you and the rest. If I could not succeed, Ithought about going up to the Italian lady, and getting her to makeinterest for us all. I was in a great hurry, because I did not knowwhen the pirates might come back; and they will, probably, shut me upsomewhere, so that I cannot get to speak to her."
"Your suggestion, Mr Raby, affords much hope that we may obtainassistance for Captain Fleetwood," said Ada. "Oh! hurry up to thetower, and I am certain that the Signora Nina will exert herself to theutmost in our favour. Tell her all that happened--tell her that thelife of one very dear to me depends on her sending us aid; and she willfind some one who will come and assist to carry your captain to a placeof safety. I need scarcely advise you to take every precaution to avoidbeing stopped on your way."
"Never fear me, Miss Garden," answered the midshipman, as he leaped onshore. "If I hear any one coming near me, I'll stow myself away underthe rocks, or climb right up the cliffs over their heads. It'sfortunately so dark, that there's very little chance of my being seen,and I'll be back again as fast as I can."
Nina Montifalcone was sitting, solitary and sad, at the window of hertower, gazing out on the sea, and watching the scene enacting below her.She had risen from her couch on hearing the firing and noise, and hadgone to where she now was, to learn the cause of it. The rapiddischarge of the guns from the brig and fort told her that fighting wasgoing on, and the British boats in full retreat explained what else hadhappened. So interested was she on what was going on without, that shedid not hear the sound of the footsteps of a person who entered theroom.
"Signora, signora," said a voice near her; she started on hearingherself addressed, and saw Jack Raby standing at her elbow. "I havecome in a great hurry, and have not a moment to spare, to tell you thatSignora Garden, your friend, is on the shore of the bay in a boat, andthat there is a person very badly wounded in it, who will die if youcannot send him assistance; and also that, if you do not intercede forus with the pira--I mean with the chief of this island,--I and mycompanions shall, very likely, to-morrow morning, be hung, or shot, orhave our throats cut, or be thrown over the cliffs, or, at all events,sent out of the world."
"The Signora Garden, and one in whom she is interested, wounded,"repeated Nina. "Ah! I see how it is. Tell me, frankly, boy. Is itthe captain of the English brig who is wounded?"
"_Signora, si_, I will not deny it," said the midshipman. "There is,therefore, you will see, still greater necessity for you to interfere inhis favour."
"I tell you, boy, if it were known who he was, and for what purpose hecame here, I could not preserve his life for one instant," replied Nina."He must not be brought up here on any account, for he would becertainly recognised in the morning. Have you met my brother, SignorPaolo. He alone can assist us."
"What, the Italian gentleman? No, signora. I took too much care incoming up here to fall in with anybody," said Jack.
"Then I must go in search of him. We shall probably find him among thespectators of the fight. I will send him down to the boat. Tell thesignora that there is a cottage close to the shore on the other side ofthe bay, to the inhabitants of which my brother has been of greatservice, by preserving the lives of their children in a dire sickness,and thither the wounded man shall be conveyed. If they have anygratitude in their nature, they will perform any service Paolo mayrequire; and the English captain will be safe with them, even shouldthey discover who he is. Now, hasten back to the bay with the message,and entreat Signora Garden to return to her tower, and to appear to takeno further interest in him. It will betray him, to a certainty, if shedoes, and it can do him no good. I will, however, endeavour to arrangethat you shall remain with him to attend on him. Tell her that, as soonas I have dispatched Paolo, I will go myself to meet her."
While Nina was speaking, she took out of a chest the _capote_ she hadworn on the previous occasion, and, throwing it over her shoulders, ledthe way down the steps. While Jack Raby hurried off down the ravine,she took her way towards the edge of the cliffs, where she saw a numberof people, some of them still firing in the direction where the boatswere supposed to be, though t
hey must by that time have been beyond therange of the guns; it served, however, to occupy their attention, sothat no one perceived her. She wandered among them for some time invain, looking for her brother, till, at last, she found him, leaningagainst a part of the ruins on a high spot, from where he could overlookthe whole scene. Twice she called him, but so absorbed was he in hisown thoughts that he did not answer her, till she climbed up over thebroken fragments at his feet, and touched his arm.
"Paolo, my brother," she said, "I come to ask you to perform a generousand a noble work, from which you must not shrink. You love the Englishlady who has been held captive here. I knew it from the first, and Iknow that she cannot return your love, for her heart is another's. Nowlisten: the man to whom her heart is given, your rival if you will, liesnow in the island, wounded almost to death, and on your skill depends,probably, whether he lives or dies. Promise me, then, as you hope forsalvation in another world, for peace of mind in this, to exert thatskill to the utmost to preserve his life, to conceal his real characterfrom my husband, and to aid him to escape from the island. Say you willdo this, my brother, and I believe, from what I have seen of that fairgirl, you are far more likely to win her regard by such conduct, andultimately, perhaps, even her love, than were her lover to die withoutan attempt on your part to save him."
Paolo listened without interrupting her, and did not immediately answer.
"Her love! Do you think it possible that I should gain her love?" he atlength exclaimed, as if he had not heard anything else she had said. "Iwould sacrifice life itself for that bright jewel."
"It would be wrong were I to hold hope out to you to induce you to actas I could wish, Paolo," said Nina. "Think not of any other reward thansuch as your own heart will afford you. Her love I do not believe thatyou will attain, even were her lover to die. One of her nature placesher heart on one object, and when that is torn from her, it never againfinds a resting-place. All you may expect, and that, be assured, shewill give you, is her gratitude and esteem. With that you must becontent."
"It is bitter to think so, and yet I have long ceased to hope," murmuredPaolo. "Tell me though, Nina, what would you have me do?"
His sister told him of the arrangement she had already made with JackRaby.
"Come, my brother, decide what part you will take--there is no time tobe lost; oh! let it be that one worthy of your generous nature."
"Nina, I will do as you wish," Paolo gasped forth, after a long silence."I will endeavour to save the life of this man, even though my heartbreak when I see him united to her he loves."
"Swear it, then, Paolo--swear it by the Holy Apostles--swear it, as youhope for Heaven's mercy hereafter," exclaimed Nina. "Not only for yourown sake do I impose this oath, but for the sake of the sweet girlherself, that she may know that, though her lover is in his rival'spower, he is as safe as in the hands of his dearest friend."
Paolo took the oath his sister prescribed, and leaping off the ruins,hurried, at headlong speed, down to the bay.
Nina followed at a slower pace.
The flight of the fugitives had been discovered by old Vlacco, evenbefore they had quitted the bay. He had awoke in the night, he stated,and had taken it into his head, that he would go to see if they weresafe in their prison. He was so astonished and confused on finding theywere not there, that, at first, he could not decide what course to take.He then bethought him that his duty required him to inform his chief,and as soon as Zappa was made aware of the fact, the whole island was incommotion, and the pursuit was commenced.
It was with very great satisfaction that Nina heard of Ada's flight, andmost earnestly did she pray that she might not be overtaken. For thefair girl's sake, she wished this, and for her own, even still more so.She admired her beauty, she was inclined to love her as a sister--andyet she could not conceal from herself that she greatly feared her as arival in her husband's affections. She had lately learned, too surelyto doubt it, that his love was waning, and that he himself was fardifferent from the character she had supposed him.
By his own acknowledgment, he was a blood-stained pirate; and she hadalready too many proofs of the fact, even had he not, now that he wasindifferent to her love, boasted to her of his deeds. Sometimes, alas,the dreadful thought would occur to her, that even her life would not besafe, if it stood between him and his wishes; and yet, woman-like, shestill loved on. She tried to shut her eyes to his faults, to forget hisunkindness, and to discover only the noble qualities she at firstbelieved he possessed. Though she feared Ada, she could not hate her;and would not have harmed her, now that she felt sure she would neverconsent to become the pirate's bride should she die, much less hismistress; but she was not the less anxious for her departure, andproportionably grieved when she heard that she was once more a prisonerin the island. With natural jealousy, when Zappa spoke of obtaining aransom for Ada, she had endeavoured to ascertain what steps he hadtaken, for the purpose of arranging it; and by no means could she learnthat he had even made any attempts to open negotiations on the subjectwith any persons at Malta, or elsewhere; and this confirmed her in herfears that this was simply a pretext to weary out his prisoner, and toreconcile her to her fate. She was certain, also, that CaptainFleetwood could have heard nothing on the subject; as he would, shethought, have preferred so safe a way of recovering her, instead of thedangerous one he had attempted. Such were the subjects which occupiedher mind, as she walked down the ravine to meet her rival. In themeantime, Ada had watched, with an anxiety scarcely describable, for thereturn of Raby; every instant expecting to have the pirates come back;and to have her lover dragged roughly from her; and to have to run therisk either of betraying him, or of allowing him to perish withoutassistance.
At last Jack arrived, followed at an interval by Paolo.
"Signora," he said, "I have come to take charge of a man I hear issorely wounded. Do not doubt me; I repeat the oath I have given mysister, that I will, to the best of my abilities, endeavour to restorehim to health, and if an occasion occurs, to aid in his escape fromhence. I ask--I look for no reward."
"I trust you, signor," replied Ada, giving him her hand. "You could notcommit so black an act as to deceive me, and now, oh! hasten to put yourgood intentions into execution."
On this Paolo told her of the fisherman's hut, to which he purposed toconvey Captain Fleetwood, and hurried off to summon the old man. Hesoon returned, stating that he was from home, and as no time was to belost, he proposed that he and Raby should carry the wounded officerthere at once, with the aid of Ada and Marianna. This they accomplishedwithout much difficulty, by means of a cloak found at the bottom of theboat, and then, urged by Paolo and Raby, Ada tore herself away from him,and with Marianna, endeavoured to find her way up the ravine, while Jackremained to keep watch over his commander.