regard to him, her reflections were those to which no frequent recurrence could reconcile her, and her sorrow that which no lapse of time could soothe. Month after month rolled past, but saw no alteration in her; she was still the same meek, broken-hearted, uncomplaining widow: she seldom moved from home, and when she did, there were few eyes that did not look upon her with commiseration, and few hearts that did not swell with pity.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE PIRATE'S SAIL.-MURDER OF AN AUSTRIAN CREW.-FRANK ESCAPES.

Blood hath been shed ere now i' th' olden time,
Ere human statute purged the general weal;

Ay, and since, too, murders have been perform'd
Too terrible for th' ear.

SHAKSPEARE.

AUTUMN was far advanced before Lambro Panagiottis arrived at Nicaria with his new vessel. She was a brig of about two hundred tons burthen, and had been purchased of a merchant at Smyrna, under the pretence of disposing of her as a fire-ship for the use of the Provisional Greek Government. From morning

till night he was now busied in fitting her out for sea, in baking biscuit, and preparing dried fish for stores, and in conveying arms and ammunition on board her. In all these preparations Frank feigned to take the most intense interest, and in his movements he was, in appearance, all life and all enthusiasm, whilst grief and anxiety sat heavy at his heart. He, however, succeeded in his object; and one evening, after a day of more than usual toil, Lambro asked him if he would not choose to go again to sea, in preference to remaining on shore to cut fire-wood and attend the sheep. He accepted the proposal with gladness, but still so as to betray no suspicious enthusiasm, and Lambro desired that he should be ready to go on board the ensuing evening. It was sunset on the following day when they sailed; a monk from an adjoining monastery had been sent for to give his blessing to the ship and to the crew;-for amongst the Greeks, however wicked a man may be, he is never totally free

from the shackles of superstition, nor regardless of the forms of his religion. The pirate's wife and his children accompanied him to the beach and bade him farewell as the vessel weighed anchor, and then, the sails being all set, they issued from the little bay where the vessel had been lying. They first directed their course to the passage between Mycone and Naxos, and for two days continued beating about the wide channel to the west of those islands, since Lambro was aware that this was a track much frequented by merchant vessels on their way to and from Smyrna. On the third morning, at daybreak, a bark was descried bearing towards them. The pirates immediately hoisted a British ensign, under which they knew that they could not be easily suspected of malpractices. The day was very calm, and it was almost noon ere the two ships drew near to each other. Lambro was so impatient of delay, that he immediately sent off his boat to demand the name and destination of the stranger, and desire

him immediately to bring his papers on board his vessel. On the master coming to him, he told him that his ship was an Austrian; that she was sailing from Adramyti to Alexandria, and that he had on board a cargo of various articles, cloths, silks, and wine. Whilst this conference was passing below in the cabin, Lambro privately gave orders to send off his own men, and desire them to secure the crew of the Austrian. This being accomplished, he threw off the mask, took the unfortunate captain back to his ship, in order to force him to disclose each spot where his money and valuable goods were deposited, and complete the plunder of the vessel. Frank was ordered into the boat to row off the pirate to his prey, and when his master ascended into the unfortunate bark, he was directed to stay below and take care of the parcels which were handed down to him.

4

It was some hours ere the matter was completed the sailors of the Austrian were but six in number, whilst their enemies were nearly fifty,