Carried Off

A strange silence had come over the castle. The moon was just rising and throwing a faint light over the forest;

he castle; and as the two girls hurried after her they beheld the bay below; not silent and calm as

er nurse. 'Where is my father? And what did Andreas mean by com

k; and yet she had heard so decidedly, and felt sure Carlo also believed, that Santa Teresa was t

courtyard: I will be but a few minutes, and I shall find some one there who

no; stay with us. Come away, Catalina, and let us bolt ourselves into

tta s

ld take months to force a passage through the walls, and the gate is

from fear of she knew not what horrors. Yet poor Felipa, as she crouched near the window with

o Catalina; 'she never thinks of danger for herself.

You see, the Se?ora Etta is English, and the people in her country are not as civilised as we Spanish folk. Dry your beautiful eyes, dearie, and don't be f

e reappearance of Etta. What could the girl be doing? And why was there suddenly such a silence about the place? Catalina would

ouncil-room and the arsenal also remained unguarded. She could make nothing of it, so she had wrapped her dark mantle round her head and shoulders hoping to escape notice; but,

e gone. Etta's curiosity was now fairly awakened. It could not be possible tha

little way down to the second gate. Then sounds indeed reached her ears: the clashing of swords, the loud tones

efend the gate of the castle itself. Her first impulse was to rush back and fly to some safer place; but so frightened was she that she felt hardly able to move; and at that moment, gazing at the small mass of struggling beings, she saw Carlo at the head of

elping her dear Felipa she at last found strength to turn away from the terrible sight and to fly back to the gate and so up the stairs, an

o excited and pale that there was no longer any doubt that the worst had happe

rtion of the wall, fetch Carlo as described, and with the mere handful of men then available make a brave stand, the chief gate of the castle was really taken. Andreas little knew that all his valour was useless; but it was otherwise with Carlo, who, as he threw himself into the mêlée, was conscious that no bravery could really be of any use. Ind

real meaning of the extraordinary events which were taking place, now shouted t

tried hard to struggle to his feet, for he beheld at this moment a boy suddenly spring over the wall and come hastily towards him. Carlo heard the confused noise of the assailants an

d grasping his sword, h

d. 'You may kill me, but I will sell my life dearly. You at least shall not come furth

serious had not his injured knee proved at this minute so painful that he missed his aim, and once agai

u are mistaking me. I am no pirate, and will never draw my sword in such an unlawful

rolled away from him as he fell, and gently gave it back to the brave youth,

to it, fellow, or yield to mercy; for you go no farther!' And, regardless of Harry's explanation, Carlo once again prepare

our sword if you have any spirit at all;

elieve, it is no fault of mine. I have vowed to use no w

pons. A true knight could not fall upon an unresisting foe;

men are by no means particular, and might unintentionally hurt you, thou

ame. 'This attack is all a farce, and our men are even now lettin

ce, or you may repent of it,' said Harry, wishing the young Spaniard would

'Is it true that you are none of them? If so, I will accept your h

had just taken place a sudden wave of sympathy seemed to flow between them; each felt

ers had both disappeared; so the two lads found no difficulty

epeated Carlo several times, afraid, in spite of H

as he answered in th

could not make myself understood; and had I known

I do not know what has happened to the garrison, but I fear I ca

them, it was not difficult to guess that the pirates were intent on refreshing themselves with what good thi

rricaded within, and it was some time before Catalina could be per

' she added, looking at Harry; but as she spoke in Spanish he

d this place is in the hands of the pirates. This youth was the same one Etta saw. He is a pr

re walking below. My poor Felipa is well hidden in that cupboard, and I made Etta go there too. Alas, alas, that I should be al

h his treacherous surrender. His surprise was still greater when in another moment Etta, hearing Carlo's voice, appeared out of the dark cupboard whe

? Are you Captain Morgan's son? No--it cannot be; for

kindly helped me up here; otherwise I should be still lying und

a miracle to be in a room again--a room which spoke of civilised and refined life, and which contained an

aw you come to the castle. I am an

said Carlo. 'As long as I a

e with that dreadful Henry Mor

hungry, and brought out some bread from a cupboard; and the poor fellow fell upon it wi

ad his knee bandaged by Catalina, went into the large cupboard and tried

the men began to grumble finely at Captain Morgan; indeed, if a body of Spaniards had appeared at that moment we should never have reached this place. I can tell you C

e and good, and wished to go out this morning against them. But the plac

glad, for we suffered a great deal. Yet I ought to be used to suffering, for all this is nothing to the grief I had when these men kidnapped me from my h

hant ship, as if for honest trade, and fitted it with stores, and put in some of the pirates that found shelter in Jamaica, and gave them and the captain private instructions. My father, who was an honest merchant, never knew of this; and, wishing to take my mother and me to Costa Rica, took passage in this same ship, but on nearing the island the Sieur Simon came aboard and begged the crew to sail into harbour. Yet it was all a wicked device, for the Spaniards had already possession of the island; so that when we landed we were all seized and taken prisoners. My father and some of the others defended

ter all he was not the only English sufferer even in these distant islands

ed Felipa to come forth from her hiding-place, was sitting with his arm roun

talina is not harsh; but I am afraid of the Marquis; I can

in a few words he told his own story, and how, in spite of being such a favourite with Captain Morgan,

urning, and, gracious s