The Pirate of the Mediterranean Part 54

Paolo's mind, troubled and unhinged with the thoughts of the past, and the darkening prospect of the future, for long refused to allow sleep to visit his eyelids. He listened to ascertain whether his sister and Miss Garden were still awake; but from the perfect silence in their tent, he trusted that they had been more blessed. He then stood up to look round the rock. The irate chief was sitting on a chest, with his arms folded across is breast, and apparently, from his upright position, still full of care, and on the watch on all around. The people had thrown themselves down where they had been sitting, and seemed to be fast asleep. The sea was calm, as it had been in the morning before the squall; and, though no moon was up, the myriads of stars, which glittered in the sky, threw a light over it even to a far distance, and enabled him to discern many of the reefs and rocky islets which surrounded them, while close at hand was seen, like a skeleton of some huge monster of the deep, the last remnant of the once gallant _Sea Hawk_.

Wearied with standing, Paolo again sunk down on the rock. He was awoke by a voice which he knew to be that of Zappa.

"Rouse up, Paolo!" he said. "You have taken your share of sleep, and I would fain s.n.a.t.c.h some moments of rest to prepare me for the toils of to-morrow; and yet I dare not sleep without leaving some one in whom I can confide on the watch."

"Why, what mean you?" asked Paolo, starting up. "I will gladly watch-- but what have you to fear? Surely, no enemies are near us."

"Ah! you know not what was nearly occurring this morning, or you would not ask the question," said Zappa, in a tone of bitterness. "See you yonder six men. Are they, think you, friends or enemies? I tell you I do not trust them. Not long ago, I would have trusted them, as I would have trusted their comrades who have gone to their account; and yet they were about to destroy those two defenceless girls and you, and me, their chief. Ah! you start! You doubtless think the s.h.i.+pwreck we have suffered is a misfortune; and yet, I tell you, Paolo, that I believe by it our lives have been preserved. I can trust to you, Paolo; and while I sleep you must watch. To add to our security, light a small fire with the wood you collected, and keep yourself awake by feeding it. Should any of them move, they will clearly be seen; and perceiving that you are awake, it will make them hesitate what to do. They know also that I have arms--and that my pistols are never unloaded--and that you can call me in a moment, to use them. Two hours' sleep will be sufficient for me--you can, I hope, watch for that time."

Paolo a.s.sured Zappa that he would keep a faithful watch, for all their sakes; and then, aided by him, he lighted a fire between themselves and the men, while he kept a store of wood on their side to feed it as it began to decay. The pirate, wrapping himself in a cloak, immediately threw himself down among the stores, and was instantly fast asleep. As Paolo stood by the fire he thought that he beheld the tall masts and white sails of a s.h.i.+p gliding by, but she took no notice of the fire and disappeared in the darkness. Thus the night pa.s.sed on. He no longer felt any sleepiness; and, as the pirate chief slept soundly, he could not bring himself to awaken him. The first faint streaks of dawn had just appeared in the sky when Zappa started up.

"What has occurred? Why did not you summon me. Paolo?" he exclaimed.

"Ah! you were unwilling to awaken the angry lion. I thank you, though, for your consideration. You have kept our watch-fire in well, I perceive. Throw more wood on it, and we will presently kindle such a blaze as will light us on our way before the sun arises. Go, call your sister and the English girl, your voice will alarm them less than mine.

I will rouse up my traitorous followers--for we must be away from hence without delay. We know not what weather the morning's sun may bring."

It was still almost as dark as at midnight, when Paolo summoned the two ladies. They soon made their appearance, prepared for their perilous voyage, and refreshed by their night's slumber, notwithstanding their extraordinary position and the rudeness of their couch.

Zappa's first care was to arrange the provisions in the centre of the raft; over them he erected the tent, which, though much reduced in size, afforded sufficient shelter for the ladies. He then summoned them to take the seats he had arranged; but it was not without some fear and hesitation that they left the firm rock for so frail an ark, and it was not till Ada recollected the danger of remaining, that she could persuade herself to go on board, followed by Nina.

Leaving them under charge of Paolo, Zappa summoned his men, and each of them was seen to take a bundle of the burning embers in their hands, and to proceed with them to the s.h.i.+p. Once again they came back for more embers, and the remainder of the wood, and almost before they could return to the s.h.i.+p, a bright volume of flame was seen to burst forth from every part of the wreck. The pirate hurried on board, followed by his men. Two went on either side to work the oars; the others tended the halyards and sheet, while he stood at the helm. The ropes which secured the raft to the rock were cast off, the crew gave way with the oars, the sail was hoisted to catch a light northerly air, and a strong shove sent it gliding through the water at a rapid rate.

"Farewell, farewell," exclaimed Zappa, turning round to gaze at the burning wreck. "No enemy can now boast that they have made a prize of the bark which has for so long been the terror of the seas, nor even of her shattered timbers. Long, long will it be before your like is met with again."

The raft glided onward, guided by the flames. The light was seen far off by many eyes; but little wist they at the time that there was consuming the last remnant of the long much dreaded _Sea Hawk_.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

The bright sun at length arose, and as his warming rays fell on the raft, they served to cheer the hearts of the adventurers. The raft had made but little way, for the wind had failed them completely, and the sail had been lowered as totally useless, so that they had to depend entirely on their oars, to make progress towards the south, while the current still carried them along at a faster rate to the westward. The pirates were, as may be supposed, excessively anxious to get on sh.o.r.e as soon as possible, it mattered little to them where, because, while they remained afloat, they might, at any moment, be fallen in with by one of the vessels in pursuit of them; and even should they be met by any merchantman, they were perfectly unable to defend themselves, and should they be recognised, they would equally be delivered up to justice. So fast, however, did the current run, that it appeared very probable, not only that they would be carried far to the westward, but that they might pa.s.s the island altogether, and be obliged to attempt to gain another.

Zappa spoke but little; his mind was troubled with many thoughts, though the present earnestly claimed his attention; he saw that if they could not fetch the island, their voyage would be much prolonged, and they would be exposed to many additional risks; and pointing this out to his men, he entreated them to exert themselves to the utmost. From the muttered words and growls he heard, he perceived that he must still be on his guard against them, for they had conceived the idea, he had no doubt, that if they could once free themselves of the ladies, whom they believed to be the origin of their disasters, they should no longer be pursued; but it did not occur to them, that unless the English lady was restored, in safety, to her friends, their case would in no way be bettered. Luckily, their intended victims did not understand them, and Zappa would not alarm them by warning them of what he had heard. He told Paolo to be on his guard, and kept his own weapons ready to be used at a moment's notice. On went the raft, a thin pillar of smoke marking the spot whence it had been launched.

Zappa had been silent for some time.

"Nina," he said at last, "you have endeavoured lately to induce me to quit the life I have hitherto led. Your persuasions have influenced me greatly, and I would now gladly follow your wishes; but, alas! all the wealth I possess in the world went down in the hold of the Sea Hawk, and I am now again a penniless adventurer. I could never consent to depend on you, even had you wealth to support me, and I shall therefore once more be driven to follow my old calling on the ocean. Not my own will, but fate, drives me to it."

"Oh, no, no; neither fate nor necessity drives you to it!" exclaimed Nina. "Had the wealth, for which you mourn, not been lost, I would not have consented to use it. My brother and I have sufficient in our own country for all our wants; what is mine, surely is yours also."

"And I have in my own power a sum which some would consider an ample fortune," said Ada; "it is more, probably, than would have been demanded as my ransom, and yet I will gladly make it over to you, provided you quit for ever your lawless calling, and place your wife in safety in her native country."

"Refuse the generous offer," said Nina, rising from her seat, and placing her hand on his arm. "Do not be tempted to rob the fatherless orphan. We shall have enough, without depriving her of her property."

"Peace, girl," said the pirate. "I will not now further speak on the subject. It is folly to speak of the future when the present demands all our care."

He spoke truly. His attention, while the conversation I have described was going forward, had been less occupied than was requisite during the last few minutes, in guiding the raft, and observing the direction in which she was drifting; when, looking up, he saw on the starboard side, at no great distance from them, a ledge of black rocks, whose heads were just flush with the water, which broke over them in a line of hissing foam, threatening to wreck the raft should it once be driven against them. The pirate urged his men to exertion, for every instant the raft drifted nearer and nearer the danger. All hands went to the oars, for they saw that by their own exertions alone could they hope to escape.

The end of the reef, which it was necessary to clear before they could be again in comparative safety, was still a considerable way off; and yet it seemed scarcely possible, at the rate at which the raft could be urged on, to avoid striking it. Never did Zappa more anxiously wish for a breeze to carry them clear; for though, to the inexperienced eye, the danger appeared but slight, he knew that, if the raft, for an instant, struck the ledge, it would be forced on to it by the current, then the slightest increase of wind would form waves which would quickly sweep them all off to destruction. So slight, however, was the surf, that, at a little distance, it had not been perceived; and even now, as Ada and Nina watched it, the expression of the countenances and the eager gestures of the men alone a.s.sured them of the risk to which they were exposed.

Several times Zappa had looked astern, in the hopes of seeing the signs of a breeze coming up in that direction.

"Ah, our good genius has not deserted us," he exclaimed, at last. "Row on, my men--row on. The wind will come in time; but we must not slacken in our exertions till it reaches us."

These encouraging words had their due effect; the crew, already beginning to weary, aroused themselves afresh, the raft glided on, her head turned off from the rocks; yet still she neared them, and the side almost touched the outer ones, when the voice of the chief was again heard.

"Hoist the sail, my men," he exclaimed. "Be quick about it, and we are safe."

The sail was hoisted, and bulging out with the first breath of the wind aided to keep the raft from the threatened danger. Again the wind fell, and they once more glided towards the rock; but a stronger puff came, and they rapidly increased their distance, till Zappa was able to steer on a parallel line with the reef, and they shortly had the satisfaction of seeing the dangerous point far astern. In this manner the greater part of the voyage was accomplished, and the day drew on; but still they were at some distance from the land.

The breeze, however, continued, and there was now little or no prospect of their pa.s.sing the island, and drifting out to sea. They were about four miles off the nearest island, and were going at the rate of perhaps two knots an hour through the water, when, as Nina was watching the ever-changing countenance of the pirate, as troubled thoughts pa.s.sed through his mind, she saw him start, and shading his eyes with his hand, cast an anxious glance towards the west. Long he looked, and as he, at length, turned his face once more towards her, she observed a fierceness in his eye and a stern frown on his brow, which at once aroused all her fears.

"I see that something is again amiss," she said, looking timidly up at him. "Oh, tell me what it is has agitated you?"

"Look there," he said. "A cause sufficient to make many a bold man, circ.u.mstanced as I am, tremble," he replied, in a slow, determined tone, pointing, as he spoke, towards the north-west. "Do you see yonder stranger, which has just hove in sight?"

"I see the sails of a s.h.i.+p above the horizon. But what harm can she do to us?" said Nina. "If she sees us, and takes us on board, she will carry us to some land, whence we may proceed to Italy."

"You forget that, to the hunted pirate, all men are enemies," answered Zappa, bitterly. "I could not venture on board a merchant-vessel, without the risk of being recognised, and, if my eyes deceive me not, yonder craft is no peaceful trader, but rather a British s.h.i.+p of war."

"Heaven forbid it," exclaimed Nina. "But should she be, still the raft is so low in the water, that, at the distance we are off from her, we surely shall scarcely be recognised."

"I wish that I could think so," said Zappa; "but on board that craft there are numerous sharp eyes on the look out, and our sail may long since have been seen from her mast-heads. She is also, I well know, one of the very s.h.i.+ps sent in chase of the _Sea Hawk_, and will not allow us to pa.s.s unquestioned."

"Even should she be an enemy, are we not so near the sh.o.r.e that you may easily escape thither?" asked Nina, who was unwilling to acknowledge, even to herself, the danger to which Zappa was exposed.

"She is standing this way, and, by the manner in which her sails rise from the water, she is making rapid progress towards us," murmured the pirate, speaking to himself rather than answering Nina's question. "Ah!

I know her now; and long ere we can reach the sh.o.r.e she will be upon us. Well, we will strive to the last. Fate may, for this once, favour us. The wind may fail, or, by chance, we may not be seen; and if, when I have done all that I can to escape, rather than be captured, to hang alongside those wretches I saw not long ago on the fortifications of Malta, I have but the brave man's last resource to fly to, and the wave on which I have so long loved to float shall be my grave."

Ada Garden had heard the previous part of the conversation with feelings between hope and fear. She trusted that the s.h.i.+p in sight was a friend; and yet she could not tell what effect it might have on the pirates when they discovered that such was the case. She deeply regretted, also, the fate which she feared might await Zappa, were he captured, notwithstanding the efforts she purposed to make to preserve his life, more certainly for Nina's sake than for his own; yet she was grateful to him for the forbearance he had shown towards her.

It was an anxious time for her--indeed, the joy and satisfaction she would otherwise have felt at the thoughts of her own deliverance was much alloyed by grief for poor Nina, who, at the moment of realising her fondest hopes of reclaiming her husband, found them rudely torn from her.

The crew had not yet observed the stranger, as they were occupied at the oars, or tending the sail, and Zappa was unwilling to alarm them before it was necessary; for he knew their caitiff nature, and though ferocious enough when they were sure of victory, he could not now depend on their courage, and he thought that they were very likely, when they saw that all chance of escape was gone, to quit their oars, and refuse to exert themselves further.

On came the stranger till her hull rose out of the water, and the report of one of her guns was the first intimation the crew had of her vicinity. They all looked round with astonishment, not unmixed with terror; but the calm bearing of their chief rea.s.sured them.

"Bow on, my comrades," he said. "That s.h.i.+p will not fire at us, and in another short hour we may be among our friends on sh.o.r.e."

The stranger was, as she drew near, seen to be a brig of war, and the ensign which blew out from her peak showed her to be British.

"I know her," he muttered in Romaic. "She is no other than the accursed _Ione_, which has already wrought me so much injury. To escape from her is hopeless, and naught remains for me but to execute my last resolve.

Paolo, come here." He now spoke in Italian. "You know well how to steer, so take the helm and keep the raft for yonder headland."

Paolo came aft and took the pirate's place at the helm, who, putting his hand on his arm, continued in a whisper, "Now show your manhood, for to you I commit the charge of those men. Save their lives, if you can; and you yourself, with the testimony your sister and yon fair girl can give, will run no hazard. Say that Zappa refused to fall alive into the hands of his enemies, and bravely met the fate he had awarded to so many.

Farewell."

Whether the act of giving up the helm to Paolo, or the expression of the pirate's countenance, made Nina suspect his intentions, she herself could scarcely tell, but her eye was upon him, while her limbs shook with dread, and, just as he was about to take the fatal leap from the raft, she sprung up, and grasped him convulsively by the arm, while her brother seized him on the other side, so that, without running the risk of upsetting the raft, or dragging them both into the water, he could not execute his dreadful purpose.

"You shall not--you shall not!" exclaimed Nina, trembling in an agony of fear, and scarcely able to utter the words she wished to speak. "Commit not so dire a crime, or fill the cup to the brim, and drag me with you.

In destroying yourself, you slay me likewise."