effeminately dressed in loose Turkish trousers of crimson silk, which
were elegantly matched by a loose tunic of the same color and
texture.--This was fastened to his person by a red silken sash, which
also confined in its soft but close embrace, a large pair of pistols and
a small Spanish stiletto of the most costly workmanship. The head of
this strange being was covered with a crimson cap, and his countenance,
might have been truely termed handsome, had not the lower part of it
been enveloped in a mass of long black hair, which gave to its possessor
an air of wild and savage ferocity. (_See Engraving._)

'What strange apparition is this,' exclaimed the earl involuntarily, as
this singular personage stood erect before him.

'I am no apparition, sir,' exclaimed the stranger, in a voice so finely
modulated, that it might have been easily taken for a woman's, 'but a
substantial specimen of vigorous life, who kindly bids you welcome to
the pirates' palace.'

'And, who, then are you?' exclaimed the undaunted Earl, altering his
voice to a deep, rough tone. The stranger smiled sardonically upon the
group before him as he answered:

'I am BLACKBEARD, the far-famed Pirate of the Roanoke!'

Upon hearing these dread words, sweet Ellen Armstrong was obliged to
lean tremblingly for support, upon the arm of Arthur Huntington, whilst
the stout hearted Earl again addressed the stranger as follows:

'If you are indeed the person whom you have represented yourself to be,
learn that I have often heard of your murderous exploits before, and I