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Updated: July 25, 2025
He accordingly went into the cabin, and on his return the ship was kept away, and Captain Fleetwood came on deck. "Aloft there, can you see it now?" hailed Mr Saltwell. "Yes, sir, we're steering right for it, and I make no doubt it's a boat." The brig was making good way through the water, and soon approached the object, which proved to be a boat with her keel up.
"You would not say so, Mr Saltwell, I am sure, did you know that there is an unfortunate girl on board, the wife of the pirate, who has rendered great service to Miss Garden, as well as her brother, a young Italian, whom I am most anxious to save, as I am also the pirate himself," answered Fleetwood.
"You forget, Mr Saltwell, that we cannot be certain of that craft being a pirate, and till we are, we have no right to fire," said the captain. "Besides, our shot might strike the raft, or the pirates, if such they are, might fire on it in revenge."
The third lieutenant, though he was severely wounded, went aft to the helm, and in less than three minutes from the time the boats got alongside, the prize, under her foresail and foretopsail, was standing down the harbour. Bill, having got hold of a pistol, kept close to Mr Saltwell, that he might be ready to assist him or obey any orders he might receive.
"Please, sir, I have no parents; they are both dead, and I have no relations that I know of; but I am much obliged to you, sir," answered Bill, who kept wondering what the captain was driving at. "Well, my boy, I will keep an eye on you," said the captain. "Mr Saltwell, you will see what is best to be done with William Rayner," he added, turning to the first lieutenant.
He is worn almost to a skeleton, and he looks as if a fever were consuming him. Should anything dreadful have occurred, I am afraid it will kill him when he hears of it." "I fear so too, and it would be the last way I should wish to gain my commission," said Saltwell, with much feeling. "I wish to Heaven we could fall in with this phantom rover."
The frigate then again stood in, taking care to show no lights, when in perfect silence the boats shoved off, carrying among them about fifty officers and men. Lieutenant Saltwell called Bill aft to take a seat by his side. Before leaving the frigate, the captain had directed the first lieutenant to return should he find the ship so moored as to render it impossible to bring her out.
"I will do my utmost, dearest," he answered; "I will do all you can wish, but I know not whence that gun can have come; for the Venus has gone round the other side of the island. Keep her after the mistico, Mr Saltwell, and hoist a white flag at the fore, to show her we mean her no harm. Fire a gun also away from her to draw her attention, and she will perhaps stand back towards us."
That fellow Zappa is a bold and crafty scoundrel, as his late visit to Malta and his successful attack on the Austrian brig sufficiently proves. He may have a mind to engage us, perhaps." "You don't know the Greeks, if you think so," said Saltwell.
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