means of effecting his departure from his present associates; but there were no large vessels near him, though one or two were anchored at some distance on the other side of the harbour. From the little boats alongside he had nothing to hope, since a change to one of them might be but a repetition of the indignities he had been suffering. He then thought of going on shore to find the British Consul, but this the vigilant eye of his comrades rendered totally impossible. He was lost in perplexity, when he saw Lambro returning accompanied by two strangers. One of them was a merchant, resident at Syra, and the other the owner of a little Italian brig which lay in the harbour. The goods of the plundered ship were now produced, and the captain assured his friends that he had brought them direct from Salonika; that he wished to go on with all haste to Zante for a cargo of currants, and that he was therefore desirous of disposing of his silks and other merchan

dise here, in order to procure ready money to purchase the fruit which he wanted to take on board at the next port. This tale, which bore all the appearance of truth, was readily credited by the Syriot merchant, and they immediately began to treat about terms. In the mean time, the Italian, who had been speaking to one of the seamen, and looking at the ship, came up, and taking up a piece of silk, about the price of which they were disputing, declared that it could never have been brought from Salonika, as it bore his own name in one corner, and he had but seven days before disposed of it to an Austrian at Adramyti, who sailed with it the following day for Alexandria. It was in vain that Lambro persisted in his story, the Italian was positive, and could not be deceived; high words rose between them, and the affair was proceeding to blows, when the Italian looking suspiciously about him, muttered something of pirates. At the sound of this

word, Lambro at once gave him a thrust of his yataghan, and staggering backwards he fell headlong into the hold. The Syriot was proceeding to scream aloud for assistance, when a sailor beside him dexterously threw his shawl across his mouth, and completely silenced him, till he was carried down below and secured in the cabin. All was now hurry and confusion on board; one party was for setting sail immediately, whilst others were fool-hardy enough to persist in remaining, and making another attempt to accomplish the object for which they had touched at the island. Lambro, however, sided with the former, and orders were issued without delay to weigh and stand out to sea. This was a fearful crisis for Frank; he saw that not a moment was to be lost, and that then or never should he have an occasion of escape. He watched his opportunity, darted over the taffrail, laid hold of a rope which swung astern, and lowered himself into a boat

which lay close beneath him: no one was on board it, and he was enabled, unperceived, to hide himself beneath a pile of sheep-skins which lay in the stern-sheets. All this was done in a twinkling, whilst the corsairs were employed in the fore part of their vessel getting up their anchor; in a few moments he heard their clamour and bustle cease, their sails were rapidly spread to the wind, and as he raised his head from his place of concealment, he saw them bearing out for the mouth of the harbour, and steering again to the eastward.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A NEW FRIEND AND AN OLD ENEMY.

Upon the gale she stoop'd her side,
And bounded o'er the swelling tide,
As she were dancing home:
The merry seamen laughed to see
Their gallant ship so lustily

Furrow the green-sea foam.

SCOTT.

THE first moment that he felt himself safe, he sprung from his place of refuge, and scrambled from boat to boat till he reached the beach. Here his first enquiry was for the house of the British Consul, and having found it, he ran in breathless haste to present himself before him, and claim his protection and assistance.