'Bad luck to yer, for a murthering blackguard,' exclaimed Pat, as
nothing daunted, he closed in with the pirate, and with his superior
strength, would have easily crushed him to the earth, had not one of his
(Blackbeard's) comrades struck poor Pat a violent blow on the head with
the butt of his pistol, which caused him to let go his hold, and as he
afterwards averred, 'knocked the life from his head down to the inds of
his toes.'

Whilst this curious transaction was in progress, Henry Huntington was
busily engaged in parrying the thrusts which were aimed at him by the
third pirate, with his stout walking stick, (which might, perhaps, be
more properly termed a heavy club,) and so lustily did he lay about him,
that he soon managed to knock his adversary down, through the agency of
a blow, (which, as it was afterwards discovered, fractured the villain's
skull,) when Blackbeard and the other man, who had just got clear of
Pat, fell suddenly upon Henry Huntington, and soon disarmed him.

This having been accomplished, Blackbeard addressed him as follows:

'Dost thou know, rash and fool-hardy man, that you have incurred death,
by daring to resist my authority, and wounding one of my comrades?

'Though I know nothing either of you or your authority, or your
comrades, I do know, that as far forth as I could, I have done my duty.'

'And I still have mine to do,' answered Blackbeard. 'Knowest thou that
Mary Hamilton is in my power?'

'What,' exclaimed Henry, wildly, 'do I hear aright? Is my affianced in
the power of--'