The Pirate of the Mediterranean Part 18

"To you, at all events, my grat.i.tude is due," returned Ada. "And I would lay myself under a still further obligation, by asking you to tell me what ship I am on board, how I came here, and to where I am being conveyed?"

The Italian hesitated, as if he was framing an answer, which Ada remarked to herself. At last he replied,--"Lady, your first question I may answer. You are on board a man-of-war belonging to the patriot Greeks, who are struggling for their liberty against the infidel Turks; and you are in possession of the commander's cabin. How you came here I am less able to inform you, and thus much only, further, I know, that we are sailing for one of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago, where you will be landed, and placed with those who will tend you carefully.

Lady, I regret that I cannot tell you more."

The suspicions of Ada were much increased on hearing these words.

"I believe that you, signor, would not willingly deceive me," she observed. "The very tone of your voice forbids the supposition. But tell me, as the Greek patriots are on friendly terms with the English, should I desire to be placed on board a British ship-of-war, of which I believe there are several in these seas, would not your commander comply with my wishes?"

"The commander of this ship is anxious to do all he can to gratify you, lady; but to do as you wish may not be in his power."

"Signor," said Ada, glancing at his features. "I have heard that voice before. You speak Italian well; but so do many Greeks. Tell me, are you the commander of this ship?"

"Lady, I am not," returned the young man emphatically. "I am but acting as the surgeon of the ship, to soothe the anguish of those who are wounded. I have no authority on board."

"Then why does not the commander visit me?" said Ada, "I would see him and urge my request to be placed under the protection of the British flag. Surely he would not refuse to do so."

"Oh, lady, do not ask to see him," exclaimed the Italian, forgetting his cold reserve and previous caution. "You know not what misfortune you may bring on yourself by so doing. He believes that you are now sick, almost to death, and that your only chance of restoration to health is rest and quiet on sh.o.r.e."

"You speak in enigmas," said Ada, quickly taking alarm. "Surely the commander of a man-of-war would not detain an English lady against her will; and my having recovered would make him still more anxious to enable me to return to my friends."

The Italian stood for some minutes lost in thought.

"You know not lady how you came to be on board this vessel," he said.

"You now compel me to tell you. Your attendant informs me that the ship in which you sailed from Malta was attacked by a corsair, and captured; but that you and she were the only persons conveyed on board the pirate vessel; and that you, having fainted during the engagement, were unconscious of all that took place. It appears that for a short time only you remained on board the pirate, still in a happy state of unconsciousness of the misfortune which had befallen you, when we caught sight of the ship, chased, and captured her. You and your attendant were found on board, respectfully treated, and in possession of the chief cabin. This was a suspicious circ.u.mstance, for who could tell that you were not willingly on board."

"Ah!" exclaimed Ada, almost smiling at the atrocious supposition.

"Surely no one could believe that I was acting in consort with pirates?"

"Lady, I do not; but all may not so readily believe the truth," returned the Italian.

"But am I and my innocent attendant then to be punished as pirates,"

asked Ada, with a hysterical laugh.

"Scarcely so, lady; but you may be required to give evidence against them," returned the Italian.

"I can give no evidence against them," said Ada; "for, as you have been informed, I have been deprived of consciousness since I was found on board the English brig."

"The observation you make, lady, is much in your favour," remarked the Italian in a low tone.

"Then I am to understand," continued Ada, not noticing it, "that I am, with an attendant, a prisoner in this cabin."

"So I am compelled to confess, with much regret, is the case," replied the surgeon.

"Then I understand it all," she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, compressing her lips, and fixing her eyes upon the young man, who had advanced a few paces to the after part of the cabin. "From man I can expect no aid,--Heaven will not desert me."

"Lady, G.o.d never deserts those who trust in him," he replied, about to quit the cabin.

"Stay," exclaimed Ada. "Those features, too, I have beheld before.

Tell me where it was I saw you?"

"Lady, fancy often strangely deceives us," returned the surgeon, in his former cold tone, and before she had time to ask another question, he had quitted the cabin.

She, as Marianna had before observed, heard a bolt drawn across it.

On board what vessel they were there might be a doubt; but there was none that they were prisoners.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

Malta lay basking on the calm blue ocean, in the full radiance of a mid-day sun, hot, white, and dazzling, when Her Majesty's brig _Ione_ made her number in the offing, approaching the port from the northward.

It was observed at the signal station at the top of Government House, and from thence telegraphed to the guard-ship. At the same time another sail appeared from the eastward. She soon was made out to be a merchantman. Both had a fair wind. The brig of war stood in for the harbour on a bowline, her yards braced up on the larboard tack; and a very beautiful object she appeared, with all her canvas to her royals set to a nicety, as she rounded Fort Saint Elmo, and then kept away a little and run to her former anchorage, when, at a wave of her commander's hand, as if by magic, the whole crowd of canvas was in an instant clewed up and furled, and she brought up off Fort Saint Angelo.

The merchant brig, which had the yellow flag flying, ran towards Port Marsa Musceit, and deliberately furling one sail after another, she dropped her anchor at the quarantine station, for she had come from the land of the plague, and many a day must pa.s.s before she could get _pratique_. Captain Fleetwood ordered his gig and hastened on sh.o.r.e, in order to report himself and to deliver his despatches to the governor.

He had just returned from a trip to Naples, where he had been sent to convey despatches and also to bring back a few casks of light wines for the governor's table. He was cordially received by the old veteran, with whom he was a favourite. He was just taking his departure when he was called back.

"It may be for your satisfaction to learn, Captain Fleetwood, as I know that you are in a hurry to reach England, that you are to be sent home immediately with despatches and the mails," said the governor kindly.

"I dare say we shall see you out here again before long, from what I hear, eh?" Charles Fleetwood actually blushed.

"I shall certainly come back to the Mediterranean, with or without a ship, as soon as I can," he answered; "and I hope I shall find you well, sir."

"I shall be glad to see you, my lad, and I wish ye every success," said the old governor kindly, as Fleetwood took his final leave. On his way back to the ship he called at the post-office, for he was anxious to ascertain, without delay, if there were any letters for him. He hoped to receive one from Cephalonia. He felt sure Ada would have contrived to write to him; and as he made the inquiry his heart beat much faster than usual. He had a packet of letters delivered to him; he ran his eye hurriedly over the addresses. Her handwriting was not to be seen. They were all from England. He then made every inquiry in his power from the shipping agents and others about the _Zodiac_; but nothing had been heard of her. It was supposed she must long ago have arrived at her destination. None of Colonel Gauntlett's friends had heard of him.

Disappointed and out of spirits, he at last returned on board. He was afraid that he should be obliged to leave Malta without hearing of her safe arrival; and then how many months might pa.s.s away before he might receive a line from her. He did not, however, forget that others would be glad to hear that they were to revisit their homes, and as he pa.s.sed Mr Saltwell, the first lieutenant, who was superintending the business of sending the governor's casks of wine on sh.o.r.e, he told him to prepare for sailing to England in a day or two. Before the captain had thrown himself on the sofa in his cabin, which he did as soon as he reached it, the joyous news had flown through the ship. Jemmy Duff was the first to carry the news into the midshipmen's berth.

"Huzza, my lads!" he exclaimed, whisking round his cap, and letting it come down over the eyes of Togle, another youngster of his own standing, who was reeling after the fatigue of furling sails, and eating his dinner,--"Old England for ever! Who'll bet that we shan't be kissing our sweethearts at home this day six weeks?"

"Why, what do you mean?" cried several, looking up.

"Who'll take my bet?" replied Duff.

"Why, I will," answered Togle, who did not like being disturbed, clearing his head at the same time from the cap. "I will, because I don't think such an ugly-looking chap as you are can have a sweetheart to kiss."

Whereon he got the cap pressed down harder than before, with his nose in a slop of rum-and-water on the table.

"But what makes you sing out in that way?" asked Tompion, the second mate. "You don't mean to say that we are homeward-bound, youngster?"

"I do, though; and the skipper has just come on board to say so,"

replied Duff; and thereon there was a general shout of congratulation, for though all hands were very happy together, the thought of change was exciting, and that of home was dear to most of them.

"Well, the hope of the Duffs will be once more pressed to the maternal bosom. I congratulate you, Jemmy," said Togle, who was trying to get his own nose in order, after its flattening in more senses than one, by putting that of his antagonist out of joint a little.

"Well, now we've had our cheer, and have all been flattering ourselves with the thoughts of home, I'm ready to take any bet Duff likes to make that we shall not be in England this day six weeks, or two months, if he likes, for I believe, after all, it's a hum of his; and I propose we cob him as a punishment for deceiving his Majesty's liege subjects and gallant officers as he has done."

"I can prove, though, that I speak the truth," exclaimed Jemmy, who saw the day turning against him. "Any one of you go and ask Mr Saltwell.

He heard it from the captain, I tell you."

"No, no," put in Togle. "Punishment first and proof afterwards. That's the way the Turks manage, and they are sensible people. You can take the cobbing first, and then go and ask Mr Saltwell, or the skipper himself, if you like."

"You go and be d.a.m.ned, Togle," retorted Duff. "You know well enough that I'm speaking the truth; and mind, old chap, I shall keep you to your bet,--two months, you said."