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