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