Carried Off

a Teresa. The cocoa-nut trees and the various kinds of palms softly waved their beautiful heads in the morning breeze; the sulphur and black b

f war could meet Andreas came running into the courtyard, where Carlo had just come down to hear w

The pirates have sent a messenger, and the young English boy I told you of is with him. They are flying a white flag; that means, the pirate captain has sent them to p

an race to which he belonged; whilst Carlo, much excited by the

you really saw the men. He says that you were mistaken

I could have even brought something away from

this hour decided on nothing, and was more excited and more unfit to issue commands than he had been even the day before. Carlo appealed to Don Francis

er and conduct the messengers into the castle. They were to be well guarded, and to have their eyes banda

eived; others, that they should be sent back with threats; others, that hanging was too good for them; whilst Don Francisco declared plainly that a garrison of His Catholic Ma

rald brings us an unconditional surrender, in which case we shall have

rgan who himself leads the band, and he was never known to surrender. Andrea

h them a short, thick-set man, whose determined face spoke of dauntless courage and dari

s; and Carlo, who had rushed in to do the same, could not help an exclamation of surprise at the si

Morgan's son. How I wish these were not wicked pirates! I would talk to them of England, and perhaps they might

last night. Yes, he must be the Captain's son. Now I shall go and hear their propositions. If I had had my way the

d, or a row on the lagoon. The Marquis, her father, had been much blamed by his Spanish kindred for having sent for his daughter from Spain; but his reasons had been, besides his natural affection for her, a fear that after her mother's death her uncles might marry the young girl to one of their own friends and pass it off as an order of the King. Till now Del Campo had certainl

ed to be taken by even such a large number of pirates as had now landed; so the fears of the maidens were, in c

ght the pirates he might have been killed, so it is just as well our father waited

not,' said Etta. 'I am sure the Captain's son is brave; he w

pa, crossly. 'I tell you these pirates are all wicked, and make war on defencel

have gone on disputing over their nationalities had not Carlo reapp

air Spanish, so that the council may deliberate on it. The boy who has accompanied the messenger cannot speak many words of Spanish, an

e rind of the fruit of the cabbage-palm, which rind looked very much like a p

ugh it took all the three

vernor of the Isla

t yourself and all your men into my hands, I do by my messenger swear unto you and all those that are in yo

were made out and translated, then hurried away to his fat

y, my father. I hope you will give them a fitt

leaving their homes and flocking to the fortresses. If so, a worse enemy than the pirates may trouble us, and that will be famine. Go, Carlo, and tell the messengers

's words, he could not help being struck with the noble bearing of the fair-haired youth, who appeared to be much disturbed by the rude looks and taunts of the soldiers about him, for h

wer,' said the pirate, 'and it were best not to trifle with

n silence--which words mean in English, 'Dogs, we shall meet you,' and w

e at finding it barred and bolted, whilst a soldier, who was guarding it,

nclude me,' said

Carlo; the Marquis sa

O REFUSED ADMISSION

he went sorrowfully upstairs to get some comfort where he knew he sho

ded: 'No, I ought not to say that, for I fancy he did not mean to exclude me

e English boy? I saw the soldier escort him and his fellow down t

! If my father decides to despatch several hundred men, he must give me the

I know there is a door at the other end, which is made but of light bamboos, and you can hear well enough there

r see your fair English boy again, so do not expect it, unless we take him prisoner; then I will spare him for your sake. That is a bargain. Now, Catalina, come and show me your secret way.' And delighted that he should not be quite excluded fr