CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
When Zappa saw, by the overwhelming number of his enemies who pouredinto the fort, that he must perish or make good his retreat from theisland, he ordered those of the _Sea Hawk's_ crew who were on shore toaccompany him; and retreating from the fight, he left them below whilehe rushed up into Ada's tower, and gained the chamber where theterrified females were assembled.
"Fond girl, I will not leave you to perish or to be branded as thepirate's mistress," he exclaimed, clasping Nina in his arms. "I willnot quit you till I can place you in safety--come with me."
"We will live or die together," murmured Nina, forgetting, in thatmoment of defeat and disaster, all the cruelty of which he had beenguilty towards her.
"Lady, your friends have gained the day," he continued, turning to Ada."You have brought rain on my head, and you have your revenge--farewell."
Miss Garden's heart beat quick with hope. The moment of heremancipation had at last arrived, and he whom she loved had come to herrescue. At the instant the pirate disappeared, a person rushed forward,and seizing her in his arms, exclaimed,--"Haste, signora, from hence, ordestruction awaits us."
She knew Paolo Montifalcone's voice; and believing that the pirate hadintended to blow up the tower, she fancied that he had come to save her,nor attempted to struggle in his grasp. She shrieked out to Marianna tofollow her, but the poor girl was so petrified with horror at the deathof little Mila, which had just taken place, that she could not move, andin vain Ada implored the Italian to stop for her attendant. His onlyreply was--"It will be too late, and we shall be destroyed--on, on."
He seemed to be endowed with strength almost superhuman; he gained thebottom of the steps, and rushing on, was soon among the body of theretreating crew of the _Sea Hawk_, who were following their captain.They all recognised Paolo, who was a favourite among them, and aided himin supporting his burden.
"Oh where are you taking me to?" exclaimed Ada, when, too late, sheheard the sounds of the strange voices round her, and found that she wasdescending the ravine.
"To happiness and freedom," he answered passionately, and pressed hercloser in his arms.
Ada, with horror, saw that she was cruelly betrayed. She shriekedaloud, and struggled to get free; but he who bore her had pictured theonly joy he could hope for in possessing her, and intense misery withouther, and he could not bring himself to relinquish what he valued morethan life itself.
"Hear me, sweet Ada," he exclaimed, as he still bore her on. "He whomyou loved is dead, and a heart devoted as mine, is alone worthy tooccupy the place he held."
Still Ada entreated him to have mercy on her, to take her back to herfriends, who must even now be in the tower she had just quitted; but hewas deaf to all her prayers.
The gentle, timid Paolo had been sadly changed by the scenes he hadwitnessed, and the burning love to which, he had madly resigned hissoul. She saw at length that all appeals to his generosity or betterfeelings were vain, and overcome with horror, she fainted.
When they reached the beach, Zappa and Nina had already embarked; heplaced Ada in another boat, with the rear-guard of the pirates. Theywere quickly alongside, and she was lifted on deck, still insensible,and, without the chief seeing her, Paolo carried her in his arms below.Instantly the brig was under weigh, and darting out of the harbour, washotly engaged with the _Ypsilante_.
Once on the open sea, the pirates breathed more freely, and sail aftersail, notwithstanding the strength of the breeze, was let fall from theyards. The shot of the fort had already damaged their enemy, and nowbringing their broadside to bear on her just before she kept away inchase, they raked her fore-and-aft, killing many of the people, andcutting away much of her rigging.
The _Sea Hawk_ was celebrated for her speed, and the rigging of the_Ypsilante_ was much cut up, but her commanding officer was a gallantfellow, and crippled as he was, determined, if he could, not to losesight of the enemy; and was soon after her, firing his bow-chasers withlittle or no effect, as the _Sea Hawk_ was rapidly running from them,firing her stern guns in return.
Meantime the _Sea Hawk_ winged her rapid flight over the foaming waters.She had received but slight damage from the cannonade, opened on her bythe _Ypsilante_, during the storming of the fort, and none after she gotoutside the harbour, so that the pirates were able to laugh at theefforts of her pursuer.
Zappa having run the _Ypsilante_ out of sight, shaped as northerly acourse as the wind would allow him, towards that part of the Archipelagowhere the islands cluster the thickest, that, among their many intricateand dangerous channels, well known to him and his crew, he might have agreater chance of avoiding his enemies; and would be certain to findfriends ready to assist him. The two misticos, not being able to lookup so well to the gale, had to run before it till it moderated, and theythen hauled up in the same direction. From their rig and appearancebeing that of the ordinary craft of the Mediterranean, they ran lessrisk of recognition than the brig, or of detection, from being able toconceal themselves in any nook or bay, or behind any reef which mightoffer itself, so that an enemy might pass close to them, without theirbeing seen.
The gale continued blowing with undiminished fury till daylight, when itgave signs of abating. It had been the means of saving Zappa and hiscomrades, and he wished it to continue rather longer to carry himentirely clear of his pursuers. Men with sharp eyes were sent aloft tolook out on every side, to discover if any vessels were in sight. Theyreported one hull down in the northern board, the heads of her topsailsonly seen, which was, doubtless, the _Ypsilante_, and two on thelarboard quarter, which seemed like the two misticos. As the sun rose,his beams seemed to calm the rage of the tempest, the wind fell, theclouds dispersed, and the sea went down, and Zappa no longer felt theanxiety he had at first experienced for the fate of his vessel. He nowmustered his crew, and found that some of his bravest and best men hadfallen when attempting to defend the fort against the first attack ofthe English; the remainder promised to stand by him as long as the _SeaHawk_ floated on the waves. Every arrangement which circumstances wouldadmit of being made for the future, he dismissed all but the necessarywatch on deck, to take the rest they so much needed.
Among those who appeared was Paolo. He hitherto had had no time tospeak to him--he now summoned him to his side.
"What," he exclaimed, "are you not yet weary of a rover's life, that youreturn again to the _Sea Hawk_--or did you fear a pirate's fate, if youhad remained on shore?"
The Italian looked conscience-stricken and miserable. He could not meetthe glance of the pirate's eye; he dared not confess what he had done;and yet he knew it must be instantly discovered.
"Could I leave my sister?" he asked. "Could I leave one whom I lovedearer than life itself to perish amid the raging fight, when my armmight save her? Do you suppose that my eye is so dull, my heart socallous, that I could behold the rare beauty which almost won youraffections from her who had sacrificed all to you, and yet feel noimpression? Know, that he whom you have treated as a tyrant does hisslave, whom you have scorned and deceived, has a heart capable ofburning with a passion far more intense, far brighter, far purer, andmore enduring than the flickering flame which yours can alone nourish."
"What is this rhapsody about?" exclaimed Zappa, thinking that Paolo hadgone mad.
"When you go below, you will discover," answered the Italian, and walkedto the other side of the deck.
When Ada Garden came to her senses, she found herself in the cabin ofthe _Sea Hawk_, and Nina bending over her, and applying suchrestoratives as she had at command. She was soon sufficiently recoveredto explain to her astonished friend the means by which she had comethere.
"And Paolo could have done this. He who professed to be ready to diefor you, to tear you from the very arms of your friends, when they wereon the point of recovering you. Alas! my unhappy brother--his mind musthave forsaken him."
"Whatever the cause, I have sorely suffered, and I have no one to trustto now but you, Ni
na. Through you alone can I now hope to be restoredto my friends."
As Ada was speaking, the pirate chief entered the cabin. He startedback, on seeing her, and an angry frown came over his brow. "What! andmy suspicions are true," he exclaimed, in a voice of passion. "And thatmad youth has ventured to bring you on board. You, lady, who have beenthe cause of the disaster we have suffered, who have already so nearlyproved my destruction."
He ground his teeth as he spoke, and the two defenceless girls saw thathe was working himself up to the same awful pitch of fury to which hehad given way when he so barbarously wounded Nina.
"But where is this wretched youth?" he continued. "Here, Momolo--Balbo," calling to some of his officers, "seize Signor Paolo, and draghim here. Take care that he does not leap overboard to avoid you. Hehas performed an act, by which he has well merited death, and he knowshis guilt is discovered."
While those he spoke to were absent obeying his orders, he stood at thedoor of the cabin, grasping his sword, as if he meditated a dire andspeedy vengeance. Nina sprung towards him and clasped his arm.
"Oh! you will not injure him--you will not--you cannot kill my brother!He has committed a great fault--but his death will not remedy it. Say,for my sake--say, for her sake--for she wishes not his destruction--youwill forgive him?"
While Nina was thus pleading for her brother, he was brought in by fourof the crew, who, supposing that he had been found guilty of treachery--the only crime in a pirate's eye--stood over him with their drawndaggers in their hands, to execute, at the moment, the chief's commands.Zappa shook her off without answering her.
"So, signor, you have dared to drag hither the glittering bait which hasalready allured a host of enemies to attack us; and while I would haveleft her as their prize, and escaped in safety from what you have done,they will still continue their pursuit, nor desist till they havedestroyed us all. From the number of men engaged in the attack, theremust, doubtless, be many ships in chase of us, whereas, had you notcommitted this mad act, we might have gone our way unmolested. Such isyour crime and its consequences; and if I deliver you up to the crew,and explain what you have done, they will save me the trouble of beingyour executioner. Take him on deck," he said, in Romaic, to the men whoheld Paolo. "I will follow shortly; and you may, meantime, makepreparations to deal with a traitor."
The pirates were dragging the miserable man away, when Ada, who thoughshe knew not the words which were used, comprehended their meaning,sprang from her seat and grasped Paolo's arm, to prevent his beingcarried off.
"Stay," she cried, appealing to Zappa. "Do not condemn this unhappy manto death. Towards me he has acted the most cruel part--but I forgivehim. For your own sake, I implore you to do so likewise, for the sakeof that sweet girl. Oh! do not commit so black a crime. It will be amurder, for he had no intention of injuring you or your followers.Blinded by an unhappy passion for me, he has done this, fancying thatthe man to whom I was to be united is no more; and has been led on inthe vain hope of one day possessing me, and winning the worthless love Ishould have to give. Let me now swear that nothing shall ever induce meto become his--and let it be part of his punishment that he knows whathe has done is in vain; and if, by any means, I can remedy the evil hehas committed, I will do so, if you will allow him to live."
"A lady who pleads so energetically should have her prayers granted,"said the pirate, with a tone of irony. "But let him beware how hebehaves--unhand him," he said to the men, in their own tongue. "Theseladies have pleaded for the prisoner, and are answerable for hisconduct. And tow, signora," he said, in a blander tone, addressinghimself to Ada, "by what means do you propose to remedy the fault ofthat madman?"
Ada was silent for some minutes, during which the pirate stood regardingher attentively.
"It is fitter for you to point out the means by which I can serve you,than for me to propose them," she at length replied. "Indeed, I can donothing till I am restored to my friends; I am sure that any ransom youmay propose, which they have the power to pay, they will gladly give formy liberty."
"It is a pity that was not thought of before; but, are you aware, lady,that it is usual to secure the ransom before the prisoner is restored?"observed Zappa.
"Touch then at one of the Ionian Islands, where there are Englishauthorities, and let me write letters in different directions, andbefore long, I doubt not, the money will be raised, and will bedeposited wherever you desire. If you will allow me to go on shore, Iwill promise to do my very utmost to place the money in your hands, andwill send word to the British cruiser, now in search of this ship, thatI am in safety; and will at the same time exert all the influence I maypossess with my friends to obtain your pardon, should you be captured.This I promise to do most faithfully."
"Oh, listen to her!" exclaimed Nina, springing towards the pirate, andseizing his hands. "Land her in safety and honour among her own people,and she will pay you the money if you demand it, and I--I will beresponsible that she does so with my life--but why demand it? you havealready more wealth than you require on board this vessel, and no restnor safety can you expect, or hope to find, while you follow yourpresent pursuits; your hand against every man, and the hand of every managainst you,"--(Nina knew not that she was quoting the words of thesacred book to describe her husband)--"but oh, my husband, remember thatthere is a land across the narrow Adriatic, where your deeds areunknown, and where we may henceforth live unsuspected in tranquillity,and with such happiness as we can enjoy--that land, the land of mybirth--there, in the home which I deserted for your sake, you will besecure; there I will watch over you, will tend you, will strive to makeyou forget the past in the contentment of the present; and should you bediscovered, should any one attempt to tear you from me, I will give mylife with joy for yours. Oh say that you will do this--say you willabandon the evil course you are leading, and you will make my heart beatlighter than it has done for many a day, and bless the words you utter."
The pirate was somewhat softened.
"Nina," he said, looking at her with a glance of more affection than shehad for a long time seen, "you know not what you ask me to do. You knownot the difficulty, the almost impossibility of accomplishing what youwish. Even were I seized with the humour to turn virtuous, I cannotabandon my vessel and my crew; they are bound to me and I to them; andwere I to quit them, they would be captured, to a certainty, and in justrevenge for my desertion, they would inform all they met of my retreat.If I proposed to leave them they would not let me, and from that instantI should lose all my authority. And then think, should I even succeedin commencing the existence you propose, how is it likely to suit one,accustomed from his earliest days to the dissipation of cities, or thewild excitement of a rover's life--how should I, who have so longcommanded a band of men, regardless of all laws but those I have framed,and yet obedient to me as children, submit to the dull, ploddingbusiness of a country farmer engaged in superintending bumpkins in theirdaily toil? No, Nina, you must not expect it; I feel it cannot be."
He was silent, and seemed lost in thought. His lips moved, but hiswords were almost inaudible.
"The vision was too bright and beautiful ever to be realised," hemurmured. "Alas, alas, I have for ever cut myself off from suchhappiness--and that fond girl too--oh, it is a cruel fate for her to belinked for ever to one so lost. Yet it might be done. I might againseek out the speronara of the Sicilian Alessandro, and he should land uson some part of the coast I would select, nor should he know whither wewent. Ah--but is he to be trusted? Would he not, if he saw our wealth,be tempted to destroy us for the sake of possessing himself of it?--would he not, even if we concealed it ever so carefully, or even had itnot, suspect that we had it, and equally attempt our destruction? Whois to be trusted? In whom can I, especially, of all men, dare toconfide? Alas! on no one. Every one of my fellow men, except theruffians who surround me, and a few like them, would glory in betrayingme. I might, it is true, find some stranger bound for the Italiancoast, and with a well-
invented tale about the vessel I had quitted,persuade them to carry me whither I may determine to go."
"Nina, I will think about it," he said, aloud. "I would please you if Icould; but though my power to do evil has been great, alas! the means Ipossess of doing good are small indeed."
"Oh, do more than think of it," exclaimed Nina, looking up imploringlyin his face. "Resolve with your determined will to execute what youthink of--resolve to overcome all difficulties--to be daunted by nodangers, and she and I will bless you to our dying day, and our prayerswill ascend to heaven to implore forgiveness for the crimes which nowweigh down your soul and prevent you from perceiving clearly where truepeace and happiness can alone be found."
"Enough, Nina, enough, or you will make me act the woman," exclaimedZappa, releasing his hands from her grasp, and rushing on deck, wherehis voice was heard, immediately after, issuing some orders in his usualfirm and loud tones.
"You will conquer, my sweet Nina; you will persuade him to abandon apirate's life, and happiness may yet be in store for you," said Ada,kissing the cheek of her friend, who sat pale and trembling on the couchby her side.
Nina shook her head sorrowfully.
"Alas!" she replied, "you know not the wayward spirit which possesseshim, or you would not speak to me of hope."