which you sailed from Malta was attacked by a corsair, and captured;
but that you and she were the only persons conveyed on board the pirate
vessel; and that you, having fainted during the engagement, were
unconscious of all that took place. It appears that for a short time
only you remained on board the pirate, still in a happy state of
unconsciousness of the misfortune which had befallen you, when we caught
sight of the ship, chased, and captured her. You and your attendant
were found on board, respectfully treated, and in possession of the
chief cabin. This was a suspicious circumstance, for who could tell
that you were not willingly on board."

"Ah!" exclaimed Ada, almost smiling at the atrocious supposition.
"Surely no one could believe that I was acting in consort with pirates?"

"Lady, I do not; but all may not so readily believe the truth," returned
the Italian.

"But am I and my innocent attendant then to be punished as pirates,"
asked Ada, with a hysterical laugh.

"Scarcely so, lady; but you may be required to give evidence against
them," returned the Italian.

"I can give no evidence against them," said Ada; "for, as you have been
informed, I have been deprived of consciousness since I was found on
board the English brig."

"The observation you make, lady, is much in your favour," remarked the
Italian in a low tone.

"Then I am to understand," continued Ada, not noticing it, "that I am,
with an attendant, a prisoner in this cabin."

"So I am compelled to confess, with much regret, is the case," replied
the surgeon.

"Then I understand it all," she ejaculated, compressing her lips, and
fixing her eyes upon the young man, who had advanced a few paces to the
after part of the cabin. "From man I can expect no aid,--Heaven will
not desert me."

"Lady, God never deserts those who trust in him," he replied, about to
quit the cabin.

"Stay," exclaimed Ada. "Those features, too, I have beheld before.
Tell me where it was I saw you?"

"Lady, fancy often strangely deceives us," returned the surgeon, in his
former cold tone, and before she had time to ask another question, he
had quitted the cabin.

She, as Marianna had before observed, heard a bolt drawn across it.

On board what vessel they were there might be a doubt; but there was
none that they were prisoners.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

Malta lay basking on the calm blue ocean, in the full radiance of a
mid-day sun, hot, white, and dazzling,