Part 40 (1/2)
As Fleetwood considered the delay would not be of consequence, and that no harm could arise from allowing the mids.h.i.+pman to have his way, he gave him leave to do as he proposed, and in two minutes he returned, having accomplished his object.
”There, sir,” he said, laughing quietly. ”If the pirates miss one of the chairs, they may look for it long enough before they find it or the rope, and in the mean time they will fancy English young ladies can jump forty feet to the ground without hurting themselves. When they try to open the door, too, they'll think we are inside, for I barricadoed it with everything I could find, and there'll be a pretty smash when they shove it open.”
”You have done admirably, and now take Marianna's arm, and follow me,”
said Fleetwood, leading the way with Ada.
When Ada Garden found herself once more by Fleetwood's side, she returned her grateful thanks to Heaven for having thus restored her to liberty; for so strong was her confidence in her lover's courage and judgment, that she felt as if all difficulty and danger were over, and that success must await them.
Fleetwood also uttered a silent thanksgiving to Heaven, and a prayer for protection during the still greater danger he knew they must encounter in their endeavour to get out of the harbour; but, of course, he did not tell her this. Neither spoke; they both were confident of the sentiments of each other's heart, and Ada felt it would be useless at that moment to express her grat.i.tude, when she hoped to prove it during the remainder of her life; and he in like manner knew that there would be no necessity to tell her of his love and joy at finding her, when his acts were giving her such convincing evidence of it. They walked on under the shadow of the wall, as noiselessly and rapidly as they could move, towards the commencement of the steep path leading down the ravine. In doing so they had to pa.s.s close to Nina's tower. Fleetwood looked up; no light was seen streaming from the cas.e.m.e.nt, nor was any one heard stirring within.
On they went, and, Fleetwood tenderly supporting Ada, they commenced descending the path. They had got about a quarter of the way down, when Fleetwood fancied he heard the sound of a distant footfall. Could it be the echo of their own feet? he thought, then made a sign to Raby to stop while they listened. There could be no mistake about it. Footsteps were rapidly approaching, and, on looking back, they saw, to their dismay, a dark figure on the cliff above them. Fleetwood drew back under the shadow of an overhanging rock, and he could feel Ada, who had also seen the figure, as she clung closer to his arm, tremble with alarm, which she in vain endeavoured to overcome. Marianna uttered a faint shriek, and was going to repeat it, when Jack Raby gave her a pinch, which effectually recalled her to her senses, and, in a whisper, he threatened to give her another if she made the slightest noise. A minute or two of the most intense anxiety pa.s.sed away, which, under the circ.u.mstances, appeared nearly an hour, and no one appeared.
”If we emerge from where we are, we cannot escape being seen, should the person remain where he was,” replied Fleetwood. ”It will be better to confront him boldly, and learn his intention in following us, than to allow him to go back and to give information of our attempt. I will leave you, Ada, in charge of Mr Raby, and will return instantly.”
”Oh, do not quit me!” exclaimed Ada. ”I will go with you--indeed, I am not alarmed for myself; but I know not what may happen to you. They may kill you, Fleetwood--oh, do not go.”
”It is absolutely necessary that something should be done, dearest, and there is no greater danger to be feared in going than remaining,”
answered Fleetwood. ”Ada, I must force myself from you--it must be done.”
”You are right, Charles, I was weak. Go, and I will remain as you wish,” she whispered, relinquis.h.i.+ng his arm, and he sprang up the path.
Jack did his best to comfort Ada, by a.s.suring her that his captain could easily manage to thrash a dozen Greeks, and that he was not likely to suffer any harm from a single pirate, at all events. Every moment Ada expected to hear the noise of a struggle, a pistol-shot, or the clash of swords. She listened with breathless eagerness, trembling in every limb, and she would have followed her lover, had she not known that her so doing would be against his wish, and could be of no advantage to him, but might cause great harm. It appeared to her an age since he left her, and her anxiety became almost too great to be borne.
”Oh, Mr Raby, cannot you go up and see what has become of Captain Fleetwood? Some accident has happened to him, I am certain,” she whispered to the mids.h.i.+pman.
”I must obey orders, Miss Garden, and wait for the captain's return,”
was the answer, in the same low tone. ”You need not be alarmed, I can a.s.sure you--he has not been gone two minutes.”
He had scarcely spoken when Ada's quick ear caught the sound of footsteps, and she could scarcely restrain her cry of joy, as she sprang forward to meet him. He placed his arm tenderly round her to support her, as he led her on.
”It is very extraordinary,” he said; ”I could find no one, though I searched the very spot where I had seen him standing. But, come on, dearest, we have time to reach the boat, and to get outside the harbour before the spy, if such he was, can send people to pursue us.”
”I am able to walk much faster,” said Ada, hastening her steps, ”I dread any delay in this dreadful place.”
They had not, however, proceeded many paces, when, on turning one of the many angles of the winding path, a person, the same, they fancied, whom they had before seen, appeared suddenly before them, and laid a hand on Fleetwood's arm.
”Stay, signor,” he said in a low, deep voice, speaking in the Italian language. ”You are already suspected by one who knows not mercy, and if he were to discover your wild attempt to carry off that lady, your death would be the consequence. Return and abandon it; for ere you can get beyond the sound of the waves, as they dash on the cliffs below, you will be pursued and overtaken.”
”I know not who you are, signor,” said Fleetwood; ”but, as I believe your warning is given in kindness, I thank you. To follow your advice is impossible, and I must beg you, as a favour, not to detain us--I need not ask you, I trust, not to betray us.”
”I feel sure that Signor Montifalcone will not do so,” exclaimed Ada, recognising at once the voice of the young Italian. ”He will rather exert himself to a.s.sist us--I am not mistaken in his generosity.”
Paolo was silent a minute, when, releasing his grasp of Fleetwood's arm, he sighed as if his heart would break, and took Ada's hand. ”Lady,” he said, in a tone of deep melancholy, ”you sign my death-warrant; but it shall not prevent me from obeying your wishes. I will accompany you to your boat, if you have one prepared, and, when you have gone, I will endeavour to deceive those who attempt to follow you. Further, I know not how to aid you.”
”We are grateful to you for your promised aid,” said Fleetwood; ”and now, lead on, we can ill afford further delay.”
”It is for the lady's sake I act,” muttered Paolo, beginning to move onward down the path.