range, fierce
forms, shrieking and mocking her; and whenever she stooped down to aid
the old man, it would come between them and conceal him from her.

At last a deep-drawn sigh gave notice that she was returning to a
consciousness of the dreadful reality. She opened her eyes with
difficulty, and for an instant gazed round her, and then again closed
them. That glance had revealed to her that she was no longer in her own
cabin, though she still felt that she was at sea. For some time after
this she remained with her eyes closed, trying to collect her scattered
thoughts, till at last she remembered the fight with the _Sea Hawk_, and
the appearance of Zappa at the door of her cabin.

The thoughts of what had occurred were almost sufficient to drive back
her mind to a state of insensibility, if not to madness itself; but she
felt that all the courage and energy she could muster were requisite for
her guidance, and by a strenuous exertion of the intellect, she
conquered the feeling which was so nearly overpowering her. Once more
she opened her eyes, and tried to raise herself, that she might discover
where she was.

The movement she made attracted the attention of some one who appeared
to be occupied at a little distance from her, and who instantly flew to
her side.

"Oh, my dear mistress, the saints have heard my prayers, and you have
come to life again!" exclaimed the voice of Marianna, who immediately
presented herself before her, with a countenance in which pleasure
overcame every other feeling.

"Oh, tell me, where am I? What has happened?" exclaimed Ada, eagerly;
but the exertion or excitement caused her again almost to faint.

"Hush, hush, my dear mistress," whispered Marianna. "Do not be alarmed.
You are not in a condition to ask questions, nor to listen to my
answers, so I shall say nothing. You have been very ill with a fever,
and you are to take this medicine, which will do you much good."

As she spoke, she presented a glass, filled with a cooling beverage,
which, as Ada felt very thirsty, and her mouth dreadfully parched, she
gratefully drank off and lay back on her pillows.

She saw that she was in a large cabin, furnished and ornamented with
much taste; and through the open stern-ports, from which a light pure
breeze blew in and cooled her fevered brow, she saw the calm blue sea
glittering in the sunshine, and in the far distance the land rising in
picturesque hillocks from out of the water. W