st.

"Are you men?" cried he, as the pirates retreated. "Holy sir, I honour
you. Alas! I cannot save you," continued Francisco, mournfully. "Yet
will I try. On my knees--by the love you bore my mother--by the
affection you once bore me--do not commit this horrid deed. My lads!"
continued Francisco, appealing to the pirates, "join with me and entreat
your captain; ye are too brave, too manly, to injure the helpless and
the innocent--above all, to shed the blood of a holy man, and of this
poor trembling maiden."

There was a pause--even the pirates appeared to side with Francisco,
though none of them dared to speak. The muscles of the captain's face
quivered with emotion, but from what source could not be ascertained.

At this moment the interest of the scene was heightened. The girl who
attended upon Teresa, crouched on her knees with terror, had been
casting her fearful eyes upon the men who composed the pirate-crew;
suddenly she uttered a scream of delight as she discovered among them
one that she well knew. He was a young man, about twenty-five years of
age, with little or no beard. He had been her lover in his more
innocent days; and she, for more than a year, had mourned him as dead,
for the vessel in which he sailed had never been heard of. It had been
taken by the pirate, and, to save his life, he had joined the crew.

"Filippo! Filippo!" screamed the girl, rushing into his arms.
"Mistress! it is Filippo; and we are safe."

Filippo instantly recognised her: the sight of her brought back to his
memory his days of happiness and of innocence; and the lovers were
clasped in each other's arms.

"Save them! spare them!--by the spirit of my mother! I charge you,"
repeated Francisco, again appealing to the captain.

"May God bless thee, thou good young man!" said the bishop, advancing
and placing his hand upon Francisco's head.

Cain answered not; but his broad expanded chest heaved with emotion--
when Hawkhurst burst into the group.

"We are too late for the money, captain: the water is already six feet
above it. We must now try for the treasure."

This intelligence appeared to check the current of the captain's
feelings.

"Now, in one word, sir," said he to the bishop, "where is the treasure?
Trifle not, or, by Heaven--!"

"Name not Heaven," replied the bishop; "you have had my answer."

The captain turned away, and gave some directions to Hawkhurst, who
hastened below.

"Remove that boy,