Chapter VI: Part 6

"Well, there was I, a wild, daring, uncontrollable youth, living locked up in the bed-room of an innocent little creature some years younger than myself. She brought me every thing that she thought likely to render my confinement more endurable, and endeavoured, by a thousand affectionate ways, to make me forget that I was deprived of my liberty. To get out of the prison, she told me, was impossible at present, as every person entering and going out underwent strict examination; but I had some idea that she said this to keep me where I was; and though I loved her as well as I was able to love, for having saved my life, the sort of existence I led was not one my spirit could long endure. I can say, most solemnly, that she remained as pure in heart and mind as it was possible for the purest to be. She allowed my caresses--she returned them--but there was such a modesty in her spotless nature, that it repelled the slightest exhibition of passion. At night she would leave the room while I undressed, and, when I was in bed, she would come and lay by my side upon the bed in her clothes, and, with her arms round my neck, and her cheek upon mine, we went to sleep. When she made her toilet, she would draw the curtains round me, kiss me, and tell me not to move; and her innocence and gentleness seemed to exert upon me such a spell, that I did'nt dare move an inch, or make the slightest attempt to watch her proceedings. Extraordinary was the care with which this guileless creature endeavoured to avoid a discovery. She watched over me as if I was her treasure, and appeared as if she knew no enjoyment but in my presence. I know not what she would have made of me in time, for I was as a child in her hands; but I began to grow restless at this imprisonment, and was seeking an opportunity to bring it to a termination. This was brought about sooner than I expected, and, in a manner, too, I did not at all anticipate.

"One day, while we were enjoying ourselves in our usual quiet manner, we heard footsteps approaching the door. She had just time to throw some work, upon which she had been employed, into my lap, and tell me to sew away as well as I could, when the door opened, and her father entered.

"'Hullo, who's that young woman?' he inquired, rather surlily.

"'Oh! it's only a person come to help me on with some work, father,' his daughter replied.

"'Oh!' he exclaimed, scrutinising my appearance very earnestly. Now, I was never any great hands at hemming and stitching: I held the needle like an oar, and pricked my fingers more than I did the stuff I was required to sew.

"'Is she a good work-woman?' asked the old man, approaching nearer to me, and watching my awkward labours with more attention than I desired.

"'Capital, father!' said my angel.

"'Humph!' he responded, in the same gruff tone.

"'Do good work-women usually hold the needle in the left hand?'

"'Oh, she works left-handed,' replied Virgo. Catch a woman off her guard if you can, thought I.

"'Humph!' exclaimed the old fellow; and then, while I was busily engaged in sewing my fingers together, and before I could have the slightest idea of what he intended, he snatched the turban off my head.

"'Ah, ah! you young gallows-bird!' he cried, in a tone of exultation; 'I've found you, have I? I thought you couldn't have given me the slip completely. But come along,' he added, as he clutched me forcibly by the arm. 'You shall be hanged this time, be assured.'

"'Not if I can help it, old boy!' said I, as I tripped up his heels; then, snatching a knife that lay at hand, I put my knee upon his chest, and held the blade over his throat.

"'Call assistance, you hussey!' screamed the prostrate jailer to his daughter, who seemed in an agony of terror.

"'If you speak another word, I'll cut your throat,' said I. 'And you, Virgo, if you don't wish your father to be killed before your face, which I shall be obliged to do to save myself, you will hand me some rope, with which I can bind him in such a manner as will prevent his giving the alarm before I have escaped.'

"'Oh, save him!' she exclaimed earnestly.

"'Quick, quick!' I cried. The rope was brought, and I tied the old boy down, safe and sound, and gagged his mouth as he was muttering curses on us both.

"'There is only one way of escaping from this place,' she observed with considerable anxiety in her features, as she saw me preparing to depart.

"'How? let me know it instantly, for I have not a moment to lose,' I replied.

"'You will be stopped at the gate, unless I am with you,' she added, gazing on me with tears in her eyes.

"'Well, come then, sweet one,' said I, hastily; 'you will lead a dog's life of it, if you remain here; and I will do the best I can for you when you are out of it.'

"She looked grateful and affectionate; instantly arranged my dress, which had become disordered by the struggle; hastily collected a few valuables; and, opening the door, we went out together. I have lived a good many years since then, but I must acknowledge that I never lived so happily as I did in the little bed-room of the jailer's daughter. I was striding along the narrow passages of the prison, when she stopped me, and told me that if I proceeded at that rate, I could not avoid being discovered, and bade me, as near as I could, imitate her manner of walking; so I immediately began to tread the ground as if I was picking my way over cherry stones, and after threading a multitude of dreary passages, we arrived at the gate, where, being in company with Virgo, I excited no suspicion, and with merely a word or two of greeting from the attendants, we passed into the street.

"I was now in the open air; I had at last escaped the stifling atmosphere of a prison; and any one, having been used to the freedom of the wide seas and the excitement of a life of enterprise, who has been immured for months within stone walls, enduring the dreary monotony of imprisonment, may imagine what were my feelings when I found myself again in the enjoyment of my liberty; but what to do now I was free was the next consideration. The dress I wore could not conceal me long, especially when, as I knew must be the case, the manner of my escape was made public; and as it would be unsafe for me to remain in the neighbourhood, I saw that it might encumber my flight; and what to do with Virgo was another puzzle: she who had risked so much for me I felt ought not to be abandoned; but I knew it would be impossible for us to remain together. I told her of this, but she begged so hard to be allowed to remain with me, and seemed to despair so completely at the thought of our separation, that I resolved at any rate that we should not part company till all hope of remaining near each other with any safety was destroyed.

"In this dilemma, I thought of a smuggler's widow, who carried on a little bit of a trade in the outskirts of the town, to whom I had done many a good turn out of regard for her husband, a brave-spirited fellow, who was shot by my side, while defending a cargo from the greedy clutches of the revenue rascals, and to her humble abode I bent my way. Glad, indeed, was she to see me, when I made myself known to her. I never knew a creature who appeared more delighted; and having told her how I was situated, actively she sat about insuring my safety. The next day, as I had anticipated, the particulars of my escape, with many exaggerations, were published all over the country. A price was set upon my head, and every hole and corner was searched, in the hope of finding the fugitive. I never felt more satisfaction than when I cut the petticoats. I was always kicking my shins against them. They hurt my spirit, and almost stifled my manhood. I was now dressed in a suit of sober brown, like a young apprentice, and I passed as the widow's nephew; serving in her shop, and going about her errands, as knowingly as if I had been a shop-boy all my life. For my sake the widow paid every possible attention to Virgo, who seemed never easy but when I was with her. The fear of discovery was always in her heart. She was restless, anxious, and melancholy.

"After a few months of this kind of life I grew quite as tired of it as I had been of my existence in the little bed-room of the gaoler's daughter. I longed for the freedom of the open sea. I felt an unconquerable desire to return to a life of enterprise. The chase, I thought, must by this time have been given up in despair; and, consequently, that now I might steer my course wherever I pleased. As I was reflecting upon the most available means of satisfying my desires, while alone pursuing some employment in the widow's little shop, who should enter, to inquire his direction to a neighbouring street, but the very last person I desired to see--Virgo's father.

"'No! surely! humph! ha! Yes, it must be. You rascal, I've found you, at last,' exclaimed the old brute, as he approached, and seized me by the collar. I had a wooden mallet in my hand at the moment; I gave it a swing round, and the gaoler fell senseless at my feet. Without stopping to acquaint any one with what I had done, I ran out of the house; and bending my way to the water-side, I inquired if any ship was on the point of sailing, and hearing that a merchant-vessel was waiting for a few hands before she started, I presented myself on board, offered my services, was engaged, and was sailing, far out of the reach of all pursuit, the same evening.

"Our voyage was a long one. We were bound to China: the crew were a medley of various nations picked up at random. The captain was proud and tyrannical; ignorant of his duty, yet continually interfering with those who were better seamen than himself. His mate was a mean-spirited sycophant, who exceeded his superior in insolence and tyranny. Punishments were frequent, and often without any thing like sufficient cause; and the men became discontented, grumbled, and at last began to threaten vengeance on their oppressors. To add to their causes of complaint the provisions fell short, which was entirely owing to the mismanagement of the captain--the men were placed on short allowance; and their officers, instead of endeavouring to render the privation as endurable as possible, by their arrogance and oppression seemed to seek every opportunity of increasing their miseries. Secret meetings were held in the ship--plans of resistance were discussed by the crew--and every day made an open revolt among them more probable. Neither the captain nor his mate appeared to entertain the least apprehension of danger, for they did not alter their behaviour in the slightest degree. In the conspiracies which had been agitated I had always been an active hand--I counselled the boldest measures, and advised their early adoption; but although my ability in seamanship was generally acknowledged, they had no knowledge of my character, and wanted what they called a more experienced leader. The mutiny broke out, however, at last, before all our plans were ripe.

"I had committed some slight offence, so trifling, that men of any sense would have passed it over; but I was seized upon by the despots, and sentenced to a hundred lashes. I was rather a favourite with all, and a loud murmur of discontent arose amongst the crew as soon as my sentence became known; but their cries were unheeded. I was being lashed to the grating, and both the tyrants were swearing at and threatening the men for not showing more alacrity in proceeding with my punishment, when the mate was felled to the deck with a handspike, and the captain was whipped up in the arms of a tall negro and hurled overboard. All who opposed would have met with similar treatment; but there was no opposition, nor was there any commiseration for the fate of the men who had been killed. I was speedily released from my disagreeable situation, and then we commenced overhauling the cargo, which we found valuable, and examining the stores, which were pronounced inadequate for the wants of a long voyage. Many plans were agitated by which we might govern our future conduct. Some were for sailing for Borneo, and there disposing of the ship and cargo for the benefit of the crew; others were for steering direct for Sumatra; there disposing of the cargo, and sail from thence to enjoy ourselves with the proceeds in one or other of the islands in the Indian Ocean. I advised, that as we were close upon the Philippine islands, where we should meet with plenty of customers for what we did not require, and could easily purchase from them whatever we wanted, it was not advisable to risk a longer voyage. We could there dispose of that portion of the cargo that found the readiest market, have the ship disguised, and fitted with as many guns as she could carry, and afterwards commence war against all the rich vessels we met from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.

"All the bold spirits among the crew applauded this proposal; but the timorous dispositions saw in it too much danger, and gave it their opposition; however, when it was found that the provisions would not last a longer voyage, part of the plan was agreed upon, and the helm was turned towards Mindanao. I was ambitious of being chosen captain, for which office I knew myself better fitted than any of my companions, but I was disappointed; and a man rather more than thirty, a native of Mozambique, on the southern coast of Africa, was promoted to the command, who was bold enough for a leader in an attack of boarders, but had not the seamanship that could conduct a vessel through every variety of danger. I concealed my disappointment as well as I could, determining to wait my opportunity till I could put forth my claims in a way that should insure their being properly acknowledged. I had some staunch friends among my associates, and these were the bravest of the whole crew. I saw that with a few more of the same kind nothing could prevent the realisation of my ambition.

"We anchored in a noble bay in the island I have mentioned; and as I was thought, even by the captain, to know more of the value of the things than any of the others, I was sent ashore, in company with two or three messmates considerably older than myself, to arrange about the sale. We were dressed as merchants; and as no one appeared to have any suspicion of our real characters, we soon negotiated, upon what we thought very favourable terms, a sale of a great portion of our merchandise. A division having been made of the proceeds, here most of those upon whom I could not depend left us, a proceeding with which I was exceedingly well satisfied; and my intentions were put into execution with regard to the alterations required in the ship to make her fit for piratical expeditions, that gratified me in a similar degree.

"While our vessel was changing her appearance, I was leading a life of indolent luxury. The part of the island near which we had anchored abounded in the most delightful kind of scenery. Plains, rich with vegetation--forests of gigantic trees, bending beneath their heavy crops of tempting fruit--and a sky over head always looking down with a warm delicious aspect--and there were other enjoyments in which I also had an abundant share. I found hearts not less warm than their climate, and looks not less glowing than their skies. To these pleasures I abandoned myself with all the heedlessness of such a wild unbridled nature as mine had always been. I revelled in a continual intoxication of the passions. I was entranced in a perpetual dream of luxurious enjoyment. But madly as I plunged into the dissipation with which I was surrounded, I never was so happy as I was while I remained in the little bed-room of the gaoler's daughter; and I have often found myself turning away from the voluptuous beauties whose ready smiles I had purchased, to think of the innocent love of the simple Virgo, who had shown to me such wonderful disinterestedness in her devotion. But these thoughts were of little avail, and why should they be otherwise? Man was made to enjoy the pleasures within his reach, or why were those pleasures created to tempt him with their near approximation? I did nothing more, therefore, in giving loose to the passions that formed part of my nature, than was natural, and the excesses into which they led were forced upon me as things impossible to be avoided.

"It was in this island I first formed the acquaintance of Master Boor, who was then a clerk in a merchant's counting-house. We met at some place of licentious indulgence. A similarity of tastes soon made us intimate--and a certain quickness of comprehension possessed by both made each familiar with the character of the other. I found him a deep, designing, low minded wretch, whose sole object was the accumulation of money by any means that cunning could devise or cruelty execute. He thought me an admirable agent to assist in carrying his plans into execution, and believing that he would be particularly useful in my pursuits, I lent myself in some measure to forward his designs. His true disposition he had well concealed from the people by whom he was surrounded, who placing unbounded confidence in his integrity, by degrees gave up to him nearly the entire management of their business. To him at all times I disposed of my plunder, and although I found him an avaricious scoundrel, over-reaching me in every way, he was too necessary to be quarrelled with. Chiefly by his assistance I got intelligence of what desirable ships were on the neighbouring seas, where they were to be found, and how the vessels of war protecting their traffic were best to be avoided; and soon as ever our ship could be got into proper trim for our purposes, we commenced a career of plunder which in a few years made us the terror and scourge of that part of the world.

"I had made myself so useful to the captain by this time, that he had named me his second in command, and intrusted me with the principal duties of the ship, with the idea of so concealing his own inefficiency; but I was not to be satisfied with a second place, when I knew the first was my right; and having now attained to the full maturity of manhood, and having about me a numerous crew of brave fellows, the majority of whom I knew were in my interest, I set about devising a plan by which my ambitious ideas might be satisfied. The man was of a fiery temper when roused, and hesitated not to commit any action to rid himself of an enemy. I watched my opportunity, picked a quarrel with him:--he attacked me with his usual violence, and after a short struggle I slew him on the deck. It was a fair stand-up fight, and none of the men attempted to interfere. After the body had been cast into the sea, I was unanimously voted into the vacant command: some through fear, and some through choice, desired that I should become their captain; but I cared not what they thought, or what they felt. I resolved, now I had obtained the superiority I wanted, to allow no obstacles that were likely to prevent me from retaining it. It was a difficult thing to get a band of fierce unruly men to obey the commands of one of themselves, but I knew that the strong will only be ruled by the strongest, and that fear was the surest chain to control the reckless; so I soon began to show them I was not to be trifled with--I made them pay the most implicit obedience to my commands--well rewarded those whom I found most tractable, and punished with instant death all who attempted resistance. In this way I created around me a set of daring spirits, ready to obey my slightest wish, and willing to follow wherever I chose to lead.

"By this time Boor had become a partner in the house whose servant he had previously been, and seemed to live in much estimation with his coadjutors; but he had not been above a year in this promotion, when both his partners died suddenly in a way best known to himself; and as he produced a will, in which he was made sole heir to their property, he took possession of the whole business, and went on with his usual cunning and treachery, accumulating money as fast as he could. I continued to live, sometimes enjoying myself like a prince on shore, at other times, when afloat, striking terror wherever I went. But in that part of the world, I found that this state of things could not last much longer. The daring manner with which our proceedings were carried on, the boldness with which we plundered, and the fierceness with which we destroyed, while it created alarm among the merchants, forced the governments to use something like activity in their measures for our extermination. Ships of war were sent after us in every direction: we were chased from sea to sea, and from coast to coast, with a rapidity that allowed us no repose; and every day, at considerable disadvantages, we were obliged to fight our way wherever we went, continually losing some of the bravest of the crew, and not being allowed a single opportunity of gaining any prizes. However, by the intelligence I received from Boor, I managed to elude being taken; and as he found that suspicions of his true character were afloat on the island, and that arrangements were being made to take him into custody upon charges he would have found it difficult to answer, he secretly and suddenly disposed of the greater portion of his property; and by an arrangement with me, he embarked on board my ship as soon as I could with safety appear on the coast, when, without losing a moment's time, we steered direct for the southern coast of Africa; and soon after my landing him at his desire at Caffreton, he commenced business there as a broker of merchandise, with a great portion of which he was supplied through me.

"I now began to feel rather desirous of knowing what had become of Virgo; for in all the scenes of danger and of pleasure in which I had since moved, I could not banish from my mind the cheerful, pure, and devoted little creature, who had risked so much to preserve my existence. Many years had passed by; I had become more stern and savage: knowing that every man's hand was raised against me, I showed but little mercy when any of the class to which I was opposed fell into my power; but though I was continually the daring leader in scenes of bloodshed, and in all animal gratifications upon every fitting opportunity abandoned myself with no other thought than to get as much pleasure into the moment as the moment could possess, I had frequently found myself looking back to what always appeared my happiest hours, to the innocent enjoyments I had known in the little bedroom of the gaoler's daughter; and finding myself, comparatively speaking, so near Madagascar, and knowing that I was so altered by time and climate that it was impossible for me to be recognised by any of my old acquaintances, I resolved to visit the old town, and try if I could discover the only being in the world for whom I ever entertained any thing like affection. The external character of the ship was always so mercantile, that the most knowing seamen were deceived by her; and as whenever I entered a port I took especial caution to make the men and every part of the vessel within observation disguised in such a manner that no suspicion could be entertained, I felt satisfied that from that quarter there was also no occasion for apprehension.

"I found the old widow in her old place--she was the same as ever. I was welcomed and wondered at as soon as I discovered to her who I was. I found her, but the dear one I had sought I never found. When she was told that I had left her, her heart seemed smitten with a sudden melancholy--her cheerfulness departed for ever--and day after day she pined till her smile was turned into darkness, and her pure spirit floated among breakers, struck, struggled, and went down. The news almost made me mad. I became as savage as a tiger; the last touch of humanity seemed to have fled from my nature; and from that moment I commenced an unrelenting warfare against my fellow-men. I was right. They had no sympathies for me, and why should I have any for them? All sought my destruction, and I destroyed all in return. But wherever I looked around the world I observed the same fierce enmity prevailing. All were waging war upon each other. The powerful crushed the weak--the rich trampled on the poor--and the idle preyed upon the labour of the industrious. It was well for them to boast of such things as justice and mercy, and love and virtue, and charity and religion: I laughed at them and their fine catalogue of hypocrisies. I saw the thin veil of spotless lace with which they sought to conceal their own rottenness and filth. I scorned their hollow professions; I hated their mean vices.

"I quickly left a place that had become detestable; and for the first time since my boyhood I visited that part of the coast near which was situated the dwelling of my family. Here I learned that my affectionate parents had long since mingled with the dust, leaving their hopeful heir, hated by all the neighbourhood for his detestable deeds and tyrannical disposition, the inheritor of their property. Finding that he had committed offences that deserved summary punishment, without asking his permission I brought him to trial: his guilt was undeniable; and I thought the ends of justice would be best accomplished if I turned him over for punishment to the people whom he had so cruelly wronged. What they did with him I do not exactly know, but I never heard of him afterwards. I then took possession of the old house,--had many alterations made in it, the more completely to fit it for my purpose--managed the approaches so as to render it inaccessible to all but friends, and used it as an asylum after my piratical expeditions. By Boor's assistance I carried on the same game which had made me famous in the Indian Seas, and with the same effect. The mere mentioning my name struck terror into the hearts of merchant-captains and their crews--all the feeble were frightened, and all the bold were in pursuit. But Boor by this time had become rich, and fancying that his connection with me was too hazardous to be continued any longer, after some fresh act of daring upon my part, when the whole coast seemed up in arms against me, as I ascertained, he gave secret information as to where I was most likely to be found. An expedition of several well armed ships was immediately fitted out, of which I had timely notice from another quarter, and sought to avoid; but when I thought I had given them the slip, and was bearing down upon what I imagined was a rich merchant vessel, I discovered that I was approaching into the very net from which I was most desirous of escaping; and was obliged to put up every stitch of canvass, and make use of every manoeuvre in the hope of getting away. My ship was a splendid sailer; but I found myself held in chase by vessels whose powers were equal to hers, and I should have inevitably been taken or killed in the struggle: but in the night a terrific storm came on; and as I was creeping along-shore, with the hope of avoiding the ships in chase, knowing that they would keep out at sea, she struck on a rock, in a short time went to pieces, and of all the crew none were saved but myself, my lieutenant, and my clerk.

"This catastrophe would have been enough to have damped the energies of any man; but I was made of different stuff. I had got some money about me, which I knew would be a letter of recommendation in any part of the world; so when we got on shore we lived in some sort of style, and there I fell in with one Captain Compass--a foolish, communicative creature, from whom I learned that he was going to Columbus, with the intention of endeavouring to get the command of one of the ships belonging to Master Porphyry the rich merchant, to whom he had strong letters of recommendation. By mutual consent we travelled together, and at the first favourable moment I took charge of his letters, and my lieutenant took charge of him. I lost no time in presenting myself with my credentials to Master Porphyry, by whom I was placed in the command of the Albatross--a vessel which, from the first moment I saw it, I had the strongest inclination to appropriate. I found that nothing could be done during the voyage to Africa; but upon my arrival at Caffreton I sought my old associate Boor, by whom I had been given over as lost, but whom the prospect of getting a rich cargo on the most advantageous terms induced to assist me as far as he was able. When my arrangements were completed, I called upon him, as he thought, to settle about the amount to be paid, but as I knew to put into execution a plan I had devised to punish him for his treachery. I was shown as usual into a little room at the back of his office, in which I had noticed a large iron cupboard wherein he secured his valuables. He kept haggling with me some time, and at last the price was agreed upon, and he gave me the money. Before he had the slightest suspicion of my intentions, I suddenly caught hold of him by the throat till I had squeezed the breath out of his wretched body: his struggles were feeble, and he hadn't time to utter a cry. I quickly thrust the lifeless carcass into the iron cupboard, locked it, put the key in my pocket, and walked away as if nothing had happened.

"Of what followed after I got on board, none of you here want being told; and I have only to add to those who are now my prisoners, that Master Porphyry I keep alive, because I consider it my interest to do so, and tell him, that if he falls into my plans he will insure his own safety and that of his companions; if he opposes them, he must expect to meet with the fate of hundreds who have preceded him."

Oriel Porphyry looked proudly, and made no reply.

"Well, captain, that is the most interesting 'munication that ever was--isn't it, Master Log?" inquired the lieutenant.

"Interesting--interesting!" exclaimed the captain's clerk, aroused from his sleep, and rubbing his drowsy eyes--"most interesting--most cruelly interesting--upon my word most ferociously interesting, Mister Scrum--I mean Lieutenant Rifle."

CHAP. X.

THE PIRATE'S RETREAT.

The Albatross was creeping up the Mozambique channel, with her captain at her helm, who showed an extraordinary degree of knowledge of the coast, piloting the ship through narrow passages lined with breakers, and surrounded by stupendous rocks, amid which the waves kept lashing each other into foam on every side. Threading the mazes of this intricate labyrinth, the ship was borne through a long opening between huge masses of granite, in which it seemed utterly impossible for any vessel to keep afloat, and then entered a snug little bay, perfectly concealed from observation by passing ships by the surrounding rocks, and there she cast anchor. Boats were let down, and the prisoners, well guarded, were taken ashore. Upon landing, they found themselves upon a clean shingly beach, leading to a soil of exceeding verdure, where trees of immense proportions bowed their luxuriant heads to the passing breeze; and parasitical and creeping plants, of wonderful variety and beautiful appearance, twisted and twined among the rocks, and over the gigantic trees. There the bread-fruit tree spread its welcome burden, and the raven palm held out its green abundance. Further on, the cocoa-nut bent down its branches, overladen with their grateful fruit--while limes, oranges, tamarinds, and figs, on every side, offered their refreshing stores. Among the flowering plants, the most remarkable was the _anramatico_, whose bell-shaped flower contained nearly half a gallon of water, always pure and fresh, and whose excellent fruit was formed like a cup and cover. Among these, several flamingoes were noticed, in their scarlet liveries, like sentinels upon duty--and troops of gaudy paroquets were chattering among the branches of the trees. There the green lizard ran along the bank, and the grey chameleon glided among the boughs.

The party proceeded on through fields of maize, rice, sugar-canes, yams, and bananas, into a thick forest of gloomy trees, from among which they disturbed the wild hogs at their roots, and the monkeys in their branches--occasionally they would meet with a porcupine, or a babyroussa--and more than once they came upon a troop of bisons, or a stray zebra, who were munching the green herbage. Flocks of pigeons were flying wildly about, and innumerable singing birds were endeavouring to create a living harmony in the forest. After proceeding in this manner about a mile, the captain and his followers began to ascend a steep rock, covered with every species of tropical verdure, and they passed, with increasing difficulty, from precipice to precipice till they came to an immense black chasm that yawned fearfully before them. Over this there was no passing. Here the captain fired a pistol, and the report, reverberating through the hollow rocks, was repeated with a thousand echoes, that called up from the dreary depths of the abyss flights of monstrous bats, several hawks, and two or three gigantic eagles, that whirled round and round over the heads of the intruders, and then disappeared in various directions. Immediately afterwards a troop of armed men, of the dark olive complexion of the country, clad in loose tunics, and lower garments reaching to the knee--with naked legs and arms--were seen descending the rock on the other side; and, as soon as they noticed the captain, they set up a cry of welcome, and danced and shouted in joyful recognition.

They immediately threw a thick rope across the chasm, which was made fast to a neighbouring tree--another rope was fastened within a foot of it--over these, two strong hoops were sent across, connected with each other, and affixed to a strong rope, and by resting the body within these, and holding the ropes by the arms, each individual of the party was dragged in safety to the other side of the rock. From thence they proceeded along a narrow path cut in the rock, winding upwards to the top, and then descended on the other side, where, at the foot of the descent, they beheld a low, heavy, antique mansion, strongly built, and almost hid among plantations of the raven palm. Here they were joined by several more of the same sort of men as those by whom they had been assisted over the chasm; and the delight they evinced at the return of their master was equally noisy and wild as that previously shown by their companions.

"Welcome, gentlemen," said the captain, turning to his prisoners, "welcome to my humble abode. It does not look so imposing as the mansions to which some of you have been accustomed, but I think you will find in it every thing likely to make your captivity endurable."

"Your abode looks most invitingly, noble captain," observed Zabra, apparently much delighted; "and if the interior accord with the promise of what we see, I doubt much if either of us will have any desire to quit its attractions."

Oriel Porphyry glanced angrily upon his friend, and again a suspicion of treachery entered his mind; but his attention was soon directed into another channel, when, upon entering the house, he found it fitted up in the most sumptuous style of Eastern taste. The spacious rooms were floored with marble, that threw a delicious coolness into the atmosphere, and flowers growing out of beautiful vases filled the air with fragrance. Here were ottomans and couches to attract the indolent--and at the open windows the grapes hung in clusters to tempt the thirsty. All the furniture was costly and elegant, and every room breathed an air of luxurious enjoyment.

Here the pirate chief kept his prisoners closely watched, but allowed them every comfort that his house afforded. The wounded men were carefully attended to; and through the skill of Doctor Tourniquet, and the benefit they derived from strolling about in the neighbourhood, which they were allowed to do when well guarded, they became convalescent. Zabra was more than ever in favour with the captain, and, by the same attractions, gained the good will of every one of the wild gang whom he commanded. They let him go where he pleased, and do as he pleased; and he had excited so complete a confidence in his captors, that they left him to roam about unguarded at all times, when the rest were watched with the most jealous care. Not only was he allowed this indulgence, but they showed him all the secrets of their retreat; conducted him into subterranean caves, where piles of the most valuable merchandise were stored, and led him into the vaults where their ammunition and weapons, in great abundance, were laid up ready for use. He also went several times with them from the house to the ship, till he could find his way alone.

Oriel Porphyry was not long allowed to remain in ignorance of the conditions upon which his life and the lives of his companions might be preserved; and these were, that he should sail in the Albatross on his destination, as if nothing had transpired--negotiate a sale of the merchandise it contained--and betray into the captain's hands such of his father's ships as he might meet with on his voyage. These proposals were immediately spurned; but the entreaties of Doctor Tourniquet and the professor, and his own consideration for the poor men whose safety was in his hands, at last induced him to adopt a temporising policy. He seemed to listen with some attention to the captain's propositions, and, as the pirates thought, not unwillingly; but he was only waiting for an opportunity to attempt some desperate struggle, by which the liberation of himself and friends might be effected. This apparent acquiescence gained for him a greater degree of liberty, and a less strict surveillance, than he had previously known; and then, when they found themselves entirely free from observation, Zabra and he often met together, and had long and earnest conferences. Zabra, too, took every opportunity to converse with Hearty and the others, who had recovered from their wounds, and all seemed to listen to him with extraordinary interest. These men had intimated to the captain, that they had no objection to join his band on condition that they were not separated from Master Porphyry; and as they associated with the pirates, with every appearance of sociality and sincerity, the captain, though he did not then allow their request, left them in a less guarded state than he had previously done. Then Zabra's communications with them became more frequent, and their conferences with one another appeared to increase in interest.

One day, when the captain, and about half his band, had gone out shooting wild hogs in the adjacent woods, the rest of the pirates, with their prisoners, were mingled together, talking and joking, and amusing themselves among the trees at the back of the house, and Hearty was looking anxiously every now and then as if he was waiting for some one to join his party. His companions also shared in the laugh, and in the sport which was proceeding, but it seemed as if their thoughts were otherwise employed. They were evidently inattentive to what was going on around them. They evinced a restlessness--an anxiety--an impatience not characteristic of men engaged in amusement; and now and then looks passed between them in which there appeared more meaning than was visible to the others. But the pirates heeded not these things. They thought only of the sport in which they were occupied; and being well armed, and much out-numbering their prisoners, who were without weapons, they had not the slightest fear or expectation of their attempting an escape. At last the boy Loop was observed turning the corner of the house, carrying a heavy bundle on his head. As soon as he was seen, Hearty and his companions hastily put their right arms into the upper part of their vests, each produced a pistol, and in an instant eight or ten of the pirates fell dead or wounded at their feet. With a shout, the sailors rushed towards the boy Loop, whose bundle, containing weapons, was soon appropriated, and then, amid yells and imprecations, cheers and shouts, there commenced a war of extermination between the two parties. The pirates were taken quite by surprise, and were put in confusion by the fierceness and suddenness of the attack. They still outnumbered their opponents, but while they gathered together, and were seeking to revenge their fallen comrades, a discharge of fire-arms in their rear from Oriel Porphyry, Zabra, Doctor Tourniquet, and the professor, still more diminished their numbers, and still more distracted their attention. They were not allowed a moment of inaction. At once from both sides came the attack. Pistols were only discharged, when it was almost impossible to miss; but the chief weapon was the sword, and with this Hearty, Boggle, Climberkin, and Ardent, well backed by their companions, and Oriel Porphyry, closely followed by Zabra, Fortyfolios, and the doctor, cut down all who opposed them. The conflict was fierce. Oriel Porphyry displayed an energy that nothing could resist. He hewed his way through the thickest of his foes, and they fell like reeds before his sword; while a stern scorn was breathing from his handsome features, and his fine manly figure seemed to dilate with the pride of conscious power. Close to his side came Zabra, whose exertions were not so effective; but his object seemed more to be to defend Oriel than to attack the pirates. Several times the arm that threatened the destruction of the young merchant was rendered powerless by the ready interference of his youthful friend, and the pistol levelled at his head dropped harmless to the ground. It soon became a struggle of man to man. Each singled out his opponent, and when he was disposed of, looked out for another. In a few minutes the state of the parties had changed exceedingly. A great number of the pirates had fallen, and the rest, unable to withstand the fierceness of the encounter, appeared desirous of making their escape. They were pressed so closely, that only three out of the whole band got away, and each of these was severely wounded.

"Now, my brave fellows, we have not a moment to lose," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry. "Zabra, you will lead the way. Climberkin, you are much hurt, I'm afraid?"

"O, it's nothing, sir," replied the man cheerfully, although he was bleeding from several deep gashes: "we've nearly all got a few scratches; but I wouldn't have cared being cut to pieces, now I behold these blood-thirsty villains so reg'larly done for."

"Well, we must get forward, or the others may be upon us. Let every one look to his weapons, and be in readiness to use them. You go on, Zabra: I will follow you in a few minutes."

The young merchant hastily re-entered the house, while the others proceeded up the acclivity, and before they reached the top, he joined them. "Hullo, my friends!" he cried, with a face glowing with excitement: "just take one parting glance at this den of infamy, and I will stake my existence it will give you pleasure."

They had scarcely turned round for the purpose of complying with this request, when they observed flames issuing from the windows of the house. In so dry a climate fire burnt rapidly, and very quickly the whole place was a sheet of flame. While they were gazing, a loud noise like an earthquake shook the ground upon which they stood, and they beheld the house lifted up high into the air--the walls crack--the timbers split into pieces--and in a moment the retreat of the pirates was a mass of smoking ruins, and the air was darkened with a thick smoke and a shower of ashes. The men gave three hearty cheers, and proceeded merrily on their way. They descended the mountain till they came to the chasm where the rude bridge they had previously used remained. First, Hearty got within the hoops, and with the assistance of the ropes dragged himself across: when the hoops were pulled back, each in succession passed over; and the last was in the act of crossing as the pirate chief and the rest of his followers appeared upon the summit of the mountain. A yell of mingled ferocity and hatred arose as they witnessed the escape of their prisoners; and with malignity in their eyes and curses on their lips, they, as rapidly as possible, commenced descending the rock with the intention of overtaking the fugitives.

"Cut the ropes! cut the ropes!" shouted Oriel, and in an instant the swords of all the party were hacking at the thick twists of hemp; and as the pirates descended on the other side they were severed, and the ends fell into the abyss. A volley of pistol bullets and a chorus of imprecations arose from the enraged and baffled villains, but they did no mischief, and they were only answered by a triumphant cheer from the crew of the Albatross. The fugitives now rapidly pursued their way till they came to the sea shore, where they found two boats high and dry; these were immediately launched into the sea, and pulling the oars vigorously, they were soon by the side of the Albatross. There were not above half a dozen of the pirates left in charge of the ship, but these had noticed the approach of the boats, and seeing who they contained, were prepared to give them a hostile reception. A gun was brought to bear upon them--they saw it pointed--fired--and in the next moment the shot whizzed over their heads. With another cheer of triumph the brave fellows mounted the ship's side. Every obstacle was used to prevent their boarding, and the few who were in the ship, from the determination with which they defended it, seemed likely still to remain its masters. At this instant, when Oriel and his party were unavailingly attempting to make good a footing upon the deck, assistance came from a quarter from whence any thing so welcome had never been anticipated.

Roly Poly was pursuing his avocations in the cook-house when he heard the affray, and looking out observed exactly the state of the opposing parties. By him the pirates had never been regarded with any thing like affection. They had treated him with great disrespect. They esteemed not his art, and spoke contemptuously of his skill. His resolve was soon made, and as quickly executed. Dipping a mop in a copper of boiling water, in which his cookery was going on, he hurried as fast as his fat limbs could carry him upon deck.

"See how Roly Poly come to 'sist him friends," cried he, exultingly, as he began to use his strange weapon among the pirates with a dexterity that scattered them right and left. "Ha! you call my boofliful puddin' 'choke dog'--take dat you libellious vagabone," and with a forcible sweep the scalding mop descended upon his face, sending him howling off his heels. "Ha! you say my lumptious soup wishy-washy,--take dat, you ignrant jackmorass!" and a resistless blow upon the ear levelled him with his companion, yelling with pain; and thus he proceeded till he had cleared a way for Oriel Porphyry and his coadjutors, who quickly silenced all opposition. "I hab you now, you fellar!" shouted Roly Poly, striding in triumph over one of his victims, and seemingly intent upon ramming the scalding mop down the man's throat. "Like your imprence, I tink, you fellar! to go for to say I boil sich nice puddin I make, in nassy dishcloth!"

"Hubble, bubble, hubble, bloo!" said the choking wretch.

"Now I gib you puddin debblis nice, you fellar!" cried the fat cook, ramming away with all his might.

"Hobble, a bobble, a gobble, a gloo!" were the only sounds that were heard in reply.

"Dis nebber boil in nassy dishcloth, you fellar!"

"Grow, a row, a row, ow, oo, oo, oo!"

"Like your 'bominable imprence, you fellar!"

"Rug, a rug, a glug."

"Take debblis good care you nebber say no more sich diclus impossumbilties. Ha! him dead as herrin' now," observed the unrelenting negro; and then adding, "But serb him berry right--berry right, indeed--a fellar!" he shouldered his mop, and turned on his heel.

"Up with the anchor, and get out to sea as fast as you can," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry.

"If I might advise, sir," said Hearty, respectfully, "I should recommend an unkimmon deal o' care in steerin through these shallows. I paid 'ticular notice when we entered this here rascally neighbourhood. I've a notion them varmint never had sich a reglar spiflification since they commenced their murderin rigs--and I'm sartan sure the ship'll be lost if we don't look out pretty sharpish."

"Well, what is best to be done?" asked Oriel. "You, of all of us, are best acquainted with these matters--what do you advise."

"Why I advises this," replied the old man: "I thinks it's best, under all the 'cumstances o' the case, for a boat to be sent a little forrard takin soundins, while I takes the helm and pilots the ship 'cordingly."

"Let it be done, then," said Master Porphyry; "and as I have the greatest confidence in your skill and experience, and as I wish to show in some appropriate manner how much I regard the fidelity and courage you have evinced in my service, from this time I intrust the entire management of the ship to you, allowing you to choose your own officers from among those of your shipmates whom you think most fitted for the duties you will require from them."

At this announcement a cheer of loud congratulation proceeded from the delighted crew, among whom Hearty, by the inoffensiveness of his conduct, his general kindness, and approved courage, had become remarkably popular; but the old seaman appeared as if he did not know what to make of so unexpected a piece of intelligence. His honest, weather-beaten countenance assumed a variety of different expressions, and his confusion for some time prevented his utterance. However, at last, making an effort, he stammered, and as well as the state of his feelings would allow,--

"Thank 'ee, sir. But though I desarves nuffin o' the sort, and ar'n't hardly got gumption enough for the sitivation, I'll do all as I can as long as there's a timber afloat in this here craft, or as long as ever I can be of any sarvice to the owners."