have sank fainting to the floor, had not Violette sprang forward and
caught her in her arms.




CHAPTER IV.

_Marine Phraseology. Approach of the Piratical Brig. History
of Captain Rowland. A Conflict expected. A Boat from the
Shore. The Ship Surrenders. Sudden appearance of Blackbeard
and Ellen Armstrong on board of the Brig. Heroic Conduct of
Arthur Huntington. Ellen steps between him and Death. The
Result. Ellen in Despair._


'Mast-head, there!'

'Halloo.'

'Keep a sharp look-out there for a sail.'

'Aye, aye, sir.'

The above short but professional dialogue took place between Captain
Roderick Rowland, of the good ship Gladiator, and his third officer, (a
Mr. Summers by name,) who had been sent to the main-top gallant
mast-head immediately after the Earl of Derwentwater and his companions
had left the vessel, with the single order, at first, to keep a sharp
look-out for the many rocks and reefs which surrounded the island, but