The Pirate of the Mediterranean Part 26

As Zappa was speaking, Nina rose, and as she stood in the recess of the window, with the beams of the pale moon lighting up her countenance, which would otherwise have been cast in shadow, her figure appeared to grow more pure and ethereal, even to the eyes of the fierce and lawless pirate. Her fair and slender hands were clasped on her bosom, while she turned on him a look in which pain and reproach were mingled, as she answered--

"I would gladly do your will in all things; I would willingly afford aid to one in distress, to one who undeservedly suffers, who is torn from her kindred and friends; but speak not to me of jealousy, Zappa, I have trusted you too much, I love you too devotedly, as you well know, to be influenced by such a feeling. Let the lady arrive when she may she is welcome."

Poor girl! even as she spoke, the first pangs of the deadly poison had shot through her heart, though she knew not what was the cause of the feeling which oppressed her. She thought it was the indifference of his tone, the light carelessness of his words which gave her pain, yet he was always accustomed to speak in that way, for to things serious or sacred he paid little regard.

"I will not, then, suppose you jealous, Nina, since you like it not to be suspected that you are even capable of the feeling," answered the pirate, throwing himself back on the divan, and laughing; "I shall not, however, yet put you to the test, but when the lady arrives you will treat her as one to whom all courtesy is due."

"I have promised to do so," replied the Italian girl, still standing in the position she had a.s.sumed at a distance from him.

"Then do not look so cold, and glance your eye repulsively on me,"

exclaimed Zappa; "one might suppose that I were a monster unfit for one so fair and pure as you to gaze on."

Nina burst into tears.

"You are unkind and I am weak," she exclaimed pa.s.sionately. "You confess to me that you are a pirate and a robber, that your hand is stained with the blood of your fellow-men--of men not slain because they are the enemies of your country, but because they attempted to guard the treasure committed to their charge, and I ought to loathe and detest you, and yet I cannot--I love, I love you still."

And she sank down on her knees at his feet, and hiding her face in the cushions of the divan, gave way to a flood of tears, while her bosom heaved as if she were struggling for existence.

Zappa gazed at her for some minutes without speaking, till the paroxysm of the fit had pa.s.sed away, when compunction, or it might have been a less amiable feeling, seized him, and stooping down, he raised her in his arms.

"I was but trying you, lovely one," he said, in a soft tone. "I am not the blood-stained monster I painted myself. My hand has never slain a fellow-man except in self-defence; and is not so unworthy as you would believe to be clasped in yours. Besides, Nina, you are, as far as your church makes you so, my wedded wife--for good or for evil, for wealth or for poverty, and must not, sweet one, play the tyrant over me. But a truce with this folly--I am weary of it," he cried, starting up; "I have many directions to give about my brave barque, which I must not forget-- even for your sake,--and I must see old Vlacco, and consult with him about improving the fortifications of our island--for, with enemies on all sides, these are not times when we can trust to our remote position as before, and to such old defences as nature has provided. Farewell; and when I return, let me see the accustomed smile resting on those sweet lips."

He kissed her as he spoke; and, without waiting for an answer, he quitted the chamber, and she heard him descending the steps of the tower. She hid her face in her hands, and there seemed but little prospect of her having the power to obey his commands.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

We left Ada Garden virtually a prisoner on board a vessel which she believed a Greek man-of-war. Day after day the voyage continued without the anchor being dropped. Sometimes the vessel was steered in one direction, sometimes in another; but, as she judged by the appearance of the sun, as it was seen from the cabin windows at sunset, they were verging towards the east and north. Fortunately the weather continued fine, and they were able to have the ports open the whole of the day, which in a slight degree made her amends for being deprived of the free air of the deck. Generally, also, the wind was fair, when it came in cool and refreshing through the ports; but some days it blew more ahead, and then Ada could feel the vessel heel over as the canvas felt its force; and, at times, she judged that they were beating along some coast, or through a narrow pa.s.sage, as the continuation of the same land was seen on every alternate tack.

Signor Paolo had visited the cabin every day; but he was silent and reserved as at first, and she failed to obtain any information from him--though, latterly, she thought he appeared as if he would have spoken more; but, each time he was about to do so, fear seemed to make him hesitate, and he said nothing.

Her health, under his judicious treatment, had gradually improved till she had recovered as much of her accustomed strength as she could expect to do, without the benefit of more air and exercise than she could enjoy in the cabin. But her spirits remained much depressed at the uncertainty of her own future fate, of that of her uncle, and with the thoughts of the anguish she knew Fleetwood would endure at her loss.

"Could I but let him know," she thought, "that I am alive, and am suffering no great inconvenience, oh, how it would relieve my heart!"

She little thought that at that very time her lover was scouring the seas on board his ship in search of her.

At last the vessel was once more before the wind, slowly gliding through the water. There seemed to her more bustle and animation than usual on deck. The faint sound of a gun came off from the sh.o.r.e--it was answered by a loud report from on board, accompanied by a wild cheer from those on deck; and, a short time afterwards she felt that the anchor was let go; strange voices were heard alongside--and looking out of the stern-ports, high cliffs arose before her eyes. She and Marianna continued gazing out of their prison at the strange scent before them, and at the number of boats filled with uncouth, savage-looking beings pulling in boats round the ship. Among others, one appeared to leave the vessel and take a direct course towards the sh.o.r.e.

"Oh! signora, look there--look there!" cried Marianna. "There is Signor Paolo going to leave us."

Ada did look, but her eye scarcely rested on Paolo, for it caught sight of one who sat next to him in the boat. She grasped her attendant's arm as she whispered, "My worst fears are realised. There goes the pirate Zappa, and we are his prisoners."

"Oh! don't say such a thing, signora," cried Marianna, trembling; "I shall die of fright. Yet, surely he could not have had any command on board such a quiet, well-ordered vessel as this has been?"

"I fear that I am not mistaken in his ident.i.ty--and his appearance explains everything," said Ada. "What can he intend now by leaving the vessel? Try the doors and see if we are still prisoners in the cabin."

Marianna found the door closed as before, and she and her mistress sat down more alarmed than they had been hitherto; Ada feeling that her last hope of escape had vanished.

They remained thus for some time, till they were startled by the abrupt entrance of Paolo into the cabin. He apologised, on seeing Ada's look of surprise.

"Pardon me, signora; I have been sent by the captain of the ship to express his regret that your apartments on sh.o.r.e are not arranged, and to regret that you will have to remain some time longer on board."

"Excuses are superfluous, when no choice is allowed me but to obey,"

returned Ada, with more haughtiness in her manner than usual; for, having seen Paolo in company with the pirate, she could no longer regard him in the same light she had before done.

The young man seemed at once to observe and feel the change.

"I deeply regret, signora, that you should have cause to complain," he exclaimed, in a voice in which sorrow mingled with pa.s.sion; "but, oh!

believe me, that I am not more free than you, and act under the orders of one who has the power to compel were I to prove disobedient."

"I believe you," said Ada; "and now tell me, who is this person who ventures to hold me a prisoner?"

"You will know too soon, lady, but my lips must not inform you,"

returned Paolo. "However, if it can afford you any satisfaction to know it, be a.s.sured that I will watch carefully over you, and that my directions are, not to quit the vessel except to accompany you on sh.o.r.e."

"It must be a satisfaction to those in distress to know that they have a friend who interests himself in their welfare," replied Ada, in a softened tone, as Paolo, with an inclination of his head, withdrew.

For two whole days did Ada Garden and her attendant remain inmates of the vessel. On the third Paolo made his appearance to announce that accommodation was prepared for them on sh.o.r.e, and that a boat was waiting alongside the vessel to convey them there. For the first time Ada stepped on the deck of the vessel, and, after having been shut up so long below, the full, bright glare of the sun almost dazzled her eyes, and prevented her seeing objects clearly. As she recovered her sight, she observed that the vessel, on board which she had spent so long a time, was a brig, that she was in beautiful order, and had eight guns run out on either side. A few seamen in Greek costume were employed in the fore part of the vessel in repairing the rigging, but none of them took the slightest notice of her, as Paolo handed her to the gangway, followed by Marianna. At his summons two men came aft, and brought up her boxes from below, which were lowered into the boat alongside, into which he then a.s.sisted her and her attendant. He then gave the signal to shove off, and a few strokes of the oars carried the boat to the sh.o.r.e. Ada looked round her with surprise at the wild beauty and perfect tranquillity of the scene. In the centre of the bay lay the brig at anchor, her hull and tall masts, and the tracery of her spars and rigging reflected in the calm clear water. Her sails were closely furled, and no one appeared above the bulwarks to show that she was tenanted by human beings. The two misticoes lay inside of her, without sign of any one being on board them, and the boats belonging to the cove were drawn up on the beach, but the fishermen had deserted their nets, and not a person appeared in any direction. She gazed up at the lofty cliffs, and at the picturesque ravine towards which Paolo pointed, as they landed, to indicate their path, at the same time expressing his regret that there were no means of conveying her up it except by a litter borne by men.

The perfect calmness of the whole scene, its unusual beauty, and the freshness of the air served to rea.s.sure her, and she began to experience an elasticity of spirits she had not for a long time felt. Paolo led her up the path I have before described, to the platform on the summit of the cliffs on which the ruined castle stood.

"This is a wild spot, lady, but not wanting in beauty; and the tower you see before you is to be your abode while you remain on the island," said Paolo, pointing to a tower which was nearer the causeway, and had not so extensive a view as the one I have described, but yet it overlooked the sea, and more of the interior of the island. Paolo knocked at a door at the base, and it was opened by the young Greek girl Mila, who saluted the strangers with a smile of welcome, and then led them away up a flight of steps to an upper story, where, throwing open another door, she ushered them into a chamber, at the appearance of which Ada could not help uttering an exclamation of surprise; and Marianna, who had completely lost all her fears in company with Signor Paolo, clapped her hands with delight. The time had, indeed, been well employed, which had, since their arrival, converted that ruined tower into so magnificent an abode.

The pirate must have ransacked all his stores of silks and satins to fit up the room.

"The roof has probably been formed some time, but all else has been accomplished during the last three days," said Paolo, as they entered.

"That was the reason, lady, of your not landing before."

The style was very similar to that of the other tower; but the hangings were, perhaps, richer, and the carpets more valuable; attention had been paid to what might be supposed English taste. There were a greater number of tables and chairs, and there was even a book-case fastened against the wall, though the books it contained were few, and not of a very select description.

There were two guitars and a music-book on one of the tables, and the walls were adorned with pictures, and a magnificent silver lamp hung from the centre; and, indeed, everything had been done to give the room a cheerful and habitable appearance. On either side were curtains across a corner of the room; and, on drawing them, Ada perceived that there were couches arranged, and furnished with the finest linen, showing that the chamber was intended for their exclusive residence, perhaps also, their prison. Mila busied herself in showing the arrangements of the room, and Paolo explained that she was anxious to serve the stranger in the best way she could. Ada intimated that she could not but be satisfied with the care taken for her comfort, and Paolo, suspecting that she would prefer being left alone, called Mila, and took his departure.

Paolo had been gone some time, when a knock at the door was heard, and Marianna ran to open it. As she did so, she started back with a cry of surprise, for there stood before her the pirate Zappa.

Ada rose as she saw him, for she felt that, from the first, it would be necessary to a.s.sume a dignity and fearlessness of manner, in order to gain any influence over him.

"The Prince Argiri Caramitzo, I believe I have the honour of seeing,"

she said, bowing.

"The same, signora, who has the happiness of welcoming you to Greece, and has had that of rescuing you from a great danger," replied Zappa, in his most courteous tone, advancing a step only into the chamber. "He now comes to express a hope that you are satisfied with the arrangements made for you, and will be contented to remain an inhabitant of this island till communications can be opened with your friends, in order to restore you to them."

"I need not tell you, prince, that I am most anxious to communicate with my friends, and must beg you to tell me by what means I can do so," said Ada.

"The opportunity will, doubtless, soon occur," replied the pirate.

"But, in the mean time, I have to a.s.sure you that I have taken measures to let your friends know of your safety--though, for reasons which I may hereafter explain to you, not the place of your abode."