’He is almost too dangerous a character to receive clemency at my hands,’ answered the pirate, ’for his capture and that of his servant, has cost one of the bravest of my crew his life, therefore, according to our code of laws, which require blood for blood, he is answerable to immediate death.  But the pardoning power still remains in my hands, and I am willing to spare him upon one condition.’

‘Name, oh name it,’ exclaimed Mary, eagerly.

‘It is this,’ continued the pirate.  ’You must consent to marry Captain Rowland.’

As these dread words fell into accents cold and calm upon her ears, the self possession which had distinguished her throughout the foregoing conversation, suddenly passed away, and poor Mary Hamilton sunk utterly bereft of consciousness upon one of the richly cushioned seats which ornamented the apartment, while sweet Ellen Armstrong almost as terrified as her companion, looked vacantly around, and as if not comprehending the import of the pirate’s significant speech.

After gazing fixedly for a few moments upon the forms of the two fair creatures before him, Blackbeard stepped softly to the door from which he had made his ingress into the apartment, and in a low but distinct voice uttered the following words: 

‘Violette, come hither.’

A moment or two of dead silence intervened, and then a dark complectioned but beautifully formed female entered the apartment, and stood before the pirate, who thus addressed her: 

’Seest thou, Violette, that lady reclining upon yonder seat, with face as pale as death?’

Casting her eyes in the direction intimated by the pirate’s glance, she gave a nod of assent as he continued: 

’I am about to leave this place for a short season, and in the meanwhile I wish to place this fair lady in your keeping.’

‘And her companion also?’ asked Violette.

‘No; she accompanies me.’

‘It is well,’ replied Violette, ’your orders shall be faithfully obeyed.’

The pirate here whispered a few words in the ear of the dark female, who immediately after approached the seat where Mary was reclining, stamped thrice with her tiny foot upon the floor, when two hideous looking negressess entered the apartment, and at a sign from Violette, they instantly removed the still prostrate form of Mary Hamilton into the inner room.

This last singular and unnatural proceeding totally confused the few ideas which had remained to poor Ellen after her friend had swooned, and as the loud booming of distant cannon fell upon her ear, she too would have sank fainting to the floor, had not Violette sprang forward and caught her in her arms.

CHAPTER IV.

Marine Phraseology.  Approach of the Piratical Brig.  History of Captain Rowland.  A Conflict expected.  A Boat from the Shore.  The Ship Surrenders.  Sudden appearance of Blackbeard and Ellen Armstrong on board of the Brig.  Heroic Conduct of Arthur Huntington.  Ellen steps between him and Death.  The Result.  Ellen in Despair.

‘Mast-head, there!’