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‘There seems to be nothing very strange or alarming about that,’ answered the earl.

‘You may possibly, soon have occasion to entertain a very different opinion.’

‘How so?’ asked the earl.

‘Because the small vessel appears to be a piratical brig, whose commander, I am well assured, will not pass a rich Indiaman without politely undertaking to inspect his inventory and overhaul his cargo,’ replied the pirate.

‘I am rather inclined to think,’ answered the earl, ‘that he will first be favored through the medium of our guns with an opportunity to cultivate an extensive acquaintance with the sharks and other monsters of the deep. Now, sir,’ he continued, turning to the pirate, ‘we will with your leave, get as quickly as possible on board of our own ship.’

‘Oh, certainly,’ replied Blackbeard, ‘only, as it appears to me quite probable, that these two young ladies will be exposed to great danger in getting on board of your noble ship, I shall claim the privilege of keeping them here under my protection until I learn the result of the engagement, which I am sure the piratical commander of the brig is about to venture upon.’

As the pirate calmly concluded his strange speech, sweet Ellen Armstrong sank fainting into the arms of Arthur Huntington; and Mary Hamilton, with a blanched cheek, shrank closer to her uncle’s side, as he thus indignantly addressed the pirate:

‘Villain, I command you to leave the presence of these ladies, instantly.’

‘Until their safety is duly cared for, I shall not stir from this spot,’ coolly replied the pirate.

‘Take your fair burthen to the boat, Arthur,’ exclaimed the earl, impatiently, ‘and I will follow you.’

‘You may go, but the ladies will remain,’ said the pirate decidedly, who at the same time gave a loud peculiar whistle, and the next moment the earl found himself and his companions surrounded by a band of ferocious desperadoes, who, with brandished weapons, stood ready to execute the commands of their leader.

‘Two of you take these ladies to the palace,’ exclaimed Blackbeard, ‘whilst the remainder of you will see the gentlemen safely embarked for yonder ship.’

Although the earl and Arthur Huntington resisted manfully, their efforts were unavailing, for whilst the two ladies were borne off in one direction, they were quickly hurried on board their boat and compelled by the threats of their ruffianly assailants to row swiftly towards the noble Gladiator.

CHAPTER III.

Mary Hamilton and Ellen Armstrong Captured and conveyed to the Pirate Palace. Contemplated Escape–Frustrated by Blackbeard. Ellen afterwards conveyed on board the Pirate Brig.

In spite of their entreaties, the females were ruthlessly torn away from their companions, and conducted by these remorseless ruffians to the pirate’s palace. Mary then thought, that the beauty and loveliness of the island, which, but a few hours previous she would not have exchanged for all England, she would now gladly quit for the meanest spot on Briton’s Isle.

Sweet Ellen murmured to herself that the horrible forebodings she had in reference to the island, were but the precursor of what might be expected. The grandeur and sublimity of its scenery, its isolated position, being surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic–the unnatural music and noises, all conspired to fill the mind of this young girl with the idea that something was about to transpire of no ordinary nature,–and neither was she deceived.

A great change however, had been wrought in the course of the last few hours, upon the thoughts and feelings of our two fair captives, a change which had caused reality to usurp for a time at least, the place of romance, and constrained them to gaze with a vacant look upon the superbly natural beauties of the island glen. Therefore with thoughts concentrated upon their immediate personal prospects and fruitless conjectures as to the complexion of their coming fate, the fair captives mechanically followed the footsteps of their guides, who when they had reached the bottom of the hill, suddenly stopped before the open door of a long building which had been ingeniously constructed of bamboo and other light materials well suited for the covering of a cool place of shelter, under the heat of a tropical sun. There was nothing farther, worthy of remark about its exterior appearance, with the exception of its being so thickly covered on all sides by the luxuriant and evergreen foliage of the surrounding trees, as to preclude it from being seen from the tops of the adjacent hills, but its interior contained four large apartments, two of which had been fitted up in a manner luxurious, and even elegant.