es for making her acquaintance, and had fallen
over head and ears in love with her, although I have hitherto refrained
from saying so, because this is not a love story, but one of adventure.

"Ah!" exclaimed Ricardo grimly; "yes, I see the inevitable has happened!
Well, well, I have nothing to say against it, nor will your mother,
unless she has greatly altered since I knew her. However, to revert to
Lotta, I am afraid that, without in the least intending it, I have done
that poor girl a very serious wrong. We fell in with the boat in which
she, Mammy, and two Spanish sailors were starving, just as a light air
of wind had dropped to a dead calm; as a matter of fact we drifted right
up alongside the boat, so that it became impossible to avoid taking
those who were living out of her. Even pirates have their gentle
moments occasionally, and the sight of those four, perishing of hunger
and of thirst, in a craft that had literally drifted alongside us, was
more than we could endure; therefore we hauled them up out of the boat,
brought them round, cared for them--and they have been inmates of my
house ever since. Lotta seemed quite content to remain; she never
murmured, never expressed the slightest desire for a life different from
that which she was living ashore here. And where Lotta was content,
Mammy was supremely happy; therefore--well, I got fond of the child, and
resolutely refused to allow my thoughts to turn in the direction of
sending her away from me. But your coming has altered everything, I can
see that. When you go, she will have to go too; she would never be
happy here again without you, that is certain. Moreover, my eyes have
been opened of late to the great wrong that I have been doing her. She
is a rich heiress, and ought now to be in possession of her property.
Therefore, when I return--by which time you will doubtless be quite well
again--I will give you the charge of Lotta and Mammy, and ask you to see
that the former is safely placed in the care of her guardians. While I
am away this time I will arrange a plan by which these matters can be
brought about, and will explain everything to you upon my return. And
now I think I have said everything that I had to say, and will therefore
bid you good-night, and good-bye, since we shall sail at daybreak, and
all hands, myself included, will sleep aboard to-night. I hope that
when I return, which will probably be in about a month from now, I shall
find