Blackbeard | Page 9

seem to be rather partial towards this Captain Rowland,' Mary
carelessly remarked.
'Partial, what mean you by that, Mary?' asked Ellen, as a slight blush
overspread her beautiful features. 'He has been very kind and attentive
to all of us during our voyage, and such treatment requires, in my
opinion, at least civility in return.'
Before Mary could find time to reply to the words of her companion,
the ears of both our fair captives were suddenly astonished by the
sound of a female voice, singing in a sweet, low tone of touching
melody the following words--
'Beware, beware, Of the false and fair, For many a noble form, Hides a
heart within, Quite as full of sin, And as black as the midnight storm.'
'This must be the very palace of enchantment,' exclaimed Ellen, as the
voice of the singer abruptly ceased, 'where one could almost be led to
forget their own personal identity. But hark, I hear the strange voice
again.'
Ellen and her companion again listened in almost breathless silence as
the invisible vocalist continued her song, thus:
'Beware, beware, For grief and care Broods over the youthful heart,
And the chastening rod Of an Infinite God, His justice will soon
impart.'
Here the voice of the invisible songster again ceased, and although both
Ellen and her companion listened long for its repetition, they listened in
vain, for it was heard no more.
After a short interval of silence had elapsed, Mary Hamilton addressed
her companion as follows--
'The thought has just entered my mind of attempting to escape from this
strange and horrible place.'

'I must own, dear Mary,' replied Ellen, 'that the place is strange enough
to terrify a less romantic person than myself, still I think it far from
being horrible. This room is almost as elegantly furnished as was my
dear mother's in London, and then only think of the delightful music
which has so lately greeted our ears.'
'Think too, of the horrid farce we have seen,' continued
Mary.--'Earnestly consider, dear Ellen, that we are in the power of
pirates and murderers, whose motives for detaining us, cannot be any
thing but evil, and then say if you will join me in making an attempt to
escape.'
'You talk of escaping from the pirate's palace, as though it were the
most easy and practicable thing in the world,' exclaimed Blackbeard,
who had abruptly entered the apartment from an inner room, and had
stood unperceived behind the captives whilst Mary Hamilton had
spoken the words quoted above.
Startled by the sudden and unexpected appearance of their strange, yet
famous captor, our two maidens were at first awed into silence, but it
was of short duration, for Mary Hamilton quickly gathered sufficient
courage to enable her to answer the pirate's words as follows:
'If it is not an easy thing for us to escape, surely you possess the power
to make it so.'
'True, I possess the power,' replied the pirate, somewhat ironically, 'yet
for the present at least, I lack the inclination. So you must make
yourselves as contented as you can here in my poor house, until I can
make arrangements for your future government.'
'Allow me to ask, sir, by what right it is that you, a person totally
unknown to us, have forcibly abducted from their natural protectors,
two poor females who never harmed you nor yours?'
'Believe me, Miss Hamilton,' answered the pirate earnestly, 'when I tell
you that I have not acted in the manner of which you speak, without
reason. But my motives and reasons, I shall take the liberty of

explaining when and where I please.'
'Were your motives such as would do honor to an angel,' replied Mary,
'it would not alter my opinion either of yourself or your actions. I
believe you to be both a pirate, and murderer, and--'
'Stop, you have said enough,' exclaimed Blackbeard, sternly. 'If you do
not fear the consequences of such rash speaking for yourself, know that
I hold in my hand the power of life and death over thy betrothed lover.'
'My worst forebodings are then realized,' exclaimed Mary in a faltering
tone, 'and I must condescend to sue for mercy at your feet.--Mercy, not
for myself, but for him who is far dearer to me than life.'
'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