CHAPTER XII.

Paul Preston attacked by Pirates on the Archipelago.

Pirates' Cave. Escape. Frank joins Paul Preston at Athens. Sails for Constantinople. Mosque of St. Sophia. Dance of Dervishes. Rumour of the Plague. Description of the Turks. Leaves Constantinople for Alexandria. Contrast between the old City and the present one.

potamus.

Paul and Frank sail up the Nile. Fierce encounter of a Hippo

WE are much more dependent for comfort on those with whom we generally associate than we imagine. Without our knowing it, or, indeed, without our thinking about the matter, the presence and habits of those who usually dwell with us become necessary to our happiness. The kindest treatment, the warmest welcome, the most generous hospitality, will not make up for the luxurious ease and quietness of home; nor the most unremitting attention of strangers fill up the vacancy we feel when our accustomed friends are absent from us.

When Frank and I were separated, I felt, as it were, like a fish out of water. Not even the novelty of the scenes around me, nor the love of adventure so strong within me, prevented my being depressed. I was never made to live the life of an anchorite.

THE ARCHIPELAGO.

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I told you at the beginning of my narrative that I would, some time, give you the history of the scar on my forehead: the tale is rather long; but, if it be found interesting, the length of it will not much offend you.

The Archipelago is one of the most delightful waters in the world to sail upon, adorned as it is with numerous islands, flourishing in luxuriance and beauty and then it is connected in our thoughts with so much that is romantic and glorious, that it is impossible to glide over its glassy surface without thinking of Rome, and Greece, and battles, and heroes, and corsairs. The wildest adventures have taken place there; and many a perilous encounter, that I had heard of in my youthful days, occurred to my mind when I first gazed arcund me on the magic scene.

I was then on board a Greek goëlette which had been hired by half-a-dozen Englishmen, merely for the pleasure of sailing among the islands. Being asked to join them I gladly accepted the invitation. Had Frank Berkeley

been with me, my cup of pleasure would have been filled to the brim; but, whether by sea or land, I have always found, in common with others, something wanting, even in the blithest moments, to render my happiness complete. This is, no doubt, a wise arrangement on the part

of the Giver of all good to instruct us to look only above for unbroken joy.

The goëlette carried a gun, for the Archipelago swarmed with pirates of the most desperate character, and it was necessary to be well armed to resist them. Still, as the pirates generally made their attacks in boats, it was thought that the goëlette, carrying sail, could hardly be overtaken by men rowing with oars.

Another goëlette had sailed, though not exactly in company; and both carried rockets, that in case of danger they might assist each other.

Our sailors were all Hydriotes, and very skilful ; but they had reason enough to be watchful, for two or three captures had been made, a short time before, by a numerous band of Greek, Syriac, and Egyptian pirates, who had evaded every attempt to discover their retreat.

In one instance, the crew of a vessel, which they had taken, were sold as slaves; in another, in consequence of a determined resistance made to them, they inhumanly butchered every man on board ; and in a third, after taking out of a vessel what was valuable, they scuttled the ship, when every one of the crew went down with her to the bottom of the mighty deep.

These instances of inhumanity had spread terror around;

CRUEL DEEDS OF THE PIRATES.

279 but danger itself has a charm for daring spirits, and I do believe that the party on board the goëlette enjoyed the fair scenes around them all the more, on account of the excitement produced by a sense of peril.

We sailed in different directions, enjoying the perfumed breeze; and the surpassing loveliness of the various isles, Andro, Tinos, Zia, Syra, and Delos, by turns occupied our attention, till the rays of the setting sun streamed upwards from the wooded heights of Antiparos.

By degrees the sunbeams left the sky, and the breeze somewhat suddenly died away,-for such a change is no unusual thing in the Archipelago. The rippling warethat had sparkled like flame against the side of the vessel had lost its brightness, the distant islands became dim to the sight, and, by the time the moon had risen, we were altogether becalmed.

It was while we were lying thus in quietude, surrounded by a cluster of small islands between Naxos and Nio, that suddenly a sailor called the attention of our captain, whose name was Colotroni, to a boat at a distance. In a a few minutes more, another was seen close to the foriner one; and then, all at once, burst upon us the danger that threatened us : that they were pirates we hardly entertained a doubt, and our fears were partly confirmed by a

280

PIRATE BOATS.

rocket rising in the air in the distance, from which we concluded that another part of the pirates had attacked the other goëlette. We sent up two rockets in reply, which mounted to a great height, and came down in streams of fire.

The boats had pushed out from a projecting head-land, behind which they had sheltered themselves. With pillage, ill-usage, and slavery, if not death, before us, we had nothing to do but to fight for the chance of escaping, tho' it was a forlorn hope to expect for a moment that we should succeed in contending with the pirates thrice our number, and all, no doubt, desperate fellows.

Colotroni, our captain, was calm; but his lip quivered. Not a word was spoken. Every man felt it his duty to die fghting. Such is my love of adventure, that, even in that awful moment, I would scarcely have exchanged my perilous situation.

Laying my sword and pistols before me on the gunwale, and leaning on my carbine in dead silence, I waited the event. O how I longed for Frank Berkeley to be at my side!

The boats came nearer; and we saw on each side the regular dip of the oars that urged them rapidly along. To me they appeared like two enormous birds of prey, flying with outstretched wings to devour us, They came still