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Blackbeard, or the Pirate of Roanoke
BLACKBEARD;
OR, THE
PIRATE OF THE ROANOKE.
A Tale of the Atlantic.
BY B. BARKER, ESQ.
_Author of 'The Sea Serpent,' 'Dwarf of the Channel,' 'Mornilva,' &c._
BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY F. GLEASON, AT THE FLAG OF OUR UNION OFFICE,
CORNER OF COURT AND TREMONT STREETS.
1847.
_Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by F.
Gleason, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of
Massachusetts._
CHAPTER I.
_The Island of Trinidad. Landing of the Earl of Derwentwater and his
party upon the Isle--Its Enchanted Scenery. Unnatural Sounds. Sudden
appearance of the Notorious Pirate Blackbeard._
Situated upon the broad bosom of the vast Atlantic Ocean, about two
hundred leagues from the coast of Brazil, is a small but fertile
island, which has retained from the period of its first discovery, the
familiar name of Trinidad. This beautiful island, although a lovely
and sequestered spot, has been for various general reasons, but rarely
visited by the hardy mariners of the deep, and never permanently
settled or inhabited by man. Its surface is agreeably diversified with
high hills and low beautiful valleys, whilst its circumference is
almost wholly surrounded by a chain of dark, rocky cliffs, which gives
to this remote island a somewhat fantastic appearance to the eye of
the beholder, as he approaches it from the sea. On this circumscribed
but favored spot of earth, nature seems to have reveled in almost
boundless profusion, scattering here and there throughout its valleys
her choicest favors, in the shape of delicious tropical fruits, and
ever green luxuriant herbage, whose fragrance as it mingled with the
pure fresh breeze of the ocean, has proved to be a sweet balsam of
health to many a sick and weary mariner as he sailed within reach of
its invigorating influence. Although this fair island possessed no
convenient harbor for its vessels of any class, still there was upon
its southern side, a small piece of white sandy beach, upon which a
single boat might easily land, and here upon this same spot, a boat
did land about an hour after sunrise, on the thirty-first day of
October, 1717.
The boat in question, was occupied by six persons, who, as soon as its
keel grazed upon the clear white sand, immediately disembarked and
dispersed themselves singly and by twos, in different directions for
the purpose of enjoying a short ramble amongst the shady trees and
fragrant foliage of the island.
The party to which we have alluded, consisted of the Earl of
Derwentwater, a noble looking gentleman, who, apparently had but just
spent the prime of life,--his fair niece, Mary Hamilton, a stately and
beautiful girl, about twenty-three years of age,--Arthur Huntington
and his twin brother, Henry--a huge red headed but fat and good
natured son of the 'Emerald Isle,' who acted in the capacity of
servant to the earl, and last, though by no means least, a beautiful
golden haired, cherry cheerful nymph of fourteen, whom for the sake of
a name we shall call Ellen Armstrong.
After having rambled about for a short space of time, the earl and his
fair niece suddenly encountered each other on the brow of a rising
eminence, when the latter then accosted her companion:
'Dear uncle, this lovely island seems to me, like a miniature
paradise, wherein I could always wish to live as long as the precious
boon of life should be granted unto me.'
'I declare, Mary,' replied the earl, as a slight smile passed over his
noble countenance, 'you appear to be an enthusiast in every thing. I
grant, that this is a beautiful spot, yet not to be compared in my
estimation, even for a moment, with my lovely park near London, in
merry old England.'
'But, you forget, dear uncle,' replied Mary Hamilton, 'that our
English parks are not now what they once were.'
'How so, Mary, do not the staunch old oaks, grow to a height as lofty
as of yore?'
'Perhaps they do, but still, uncle, there is too much art mixed up
with nature, in our English scenery. Here all is nature.'
'And I think you must be a very great lover of it, if you prefer this
hilly, iron bound island, to the level green sward of Derwent park,'
replied the earl.
'I must still plead guilty of the charge of loving nature as it is,
uncle,' responded Mary. 'I have seen it in a great variety of forms. I
have viewed its high grandeur amid the forests and mountains of
America; but never before this hour, have I ever seen it so pure, so
serene, and so calmly beautiful.'
'I must needs own, that this is at present, a quiet place enough,'
answered the earl, 'but do you not know, dear Mary, that even here,
the face of nature is oft times suddenly changed, by the awful sweep
of the howling hurricane, or the thundering shock of the subterraneous
earthquake.'
'Why, I really believe, that you are getting to be enthusiastic now,
dear uncle,' replied Mary Hamilton, 'but we cannot exactly agree, I
move that we drop the subject forthwith.'
'And I second the motion,' laughingly responded the noble earl.--'But
look at the ship, Mary, and see, she is almost hull down in the
distance.'
The vessel to which the earl alluded, the white sails of which were
just visible to his eyes and those of his companion, from the eminence
on which they stood, was the honorable East India Company's ship
Gladiator, to which belonged the boat that had conveyed the Earl and
his party to the shore, in the manner before related. She was bound to
Rio Janeiro, from thence to Batavia, and as they had a long passage
from the Downs, Captain Rowland was easily persuaded to allow his
distinguished passenger the long coveted recreation of visiting the
small though beautiful island of Trinidad.
'Rowland is going to make a long tack, this time I guess,' continued
the earl, as they both stood watching the still lessening sails of the
huge Indiaman.
'Suppose, dear uncle, replied Mary Hamilton, 'that this Captain
Rowland should sail away and leave us here upon this remote island.'
'Then you would have a most excellent chance to study nature as it
is,' responded the earl playfully. 'But Rowland would never dare to do
any such foolish thing as that to which you have alluded.'
'It may be so, uncle, but still I must sincerely confess, that there
is something about this Captain Rowland and his general conduct which
I by no means like.'
'Oh, you are too fastidious, dear Mary,' replied the earl, 'for I am
sure that as far as my observation has gone, Captain Rowland has
conducted himself thus far during our voyage, in a very kind and
gentlemanly manner.'
'Your observation has not extended as far as mine, uncle, if it had
you would have noticed the sardonic and sinister expression of this
captain's countenance, as he oft times gazed upon the fair form of
sweet Ellen Armstrong.'
'What a suspicious mortal you are, Mary. Why, I would trust Rowland's
honor amongst a thousand Ellen Armstrongs, or Mary Hamiltons either.'
'God grant that your trust in his good intentions may be well
founded,' replied Mary seriously, then adroitly turning the
conversation, she continued, 'see uncle, there is Arthur Huntington
and Ellen Armstrong at the bottom of the hill--let us join them.'
Having thus spoken, Mary Hamilton accepted the aid of the earl's
proffered arm, and both together leisurely descended the hill,
intently gazing upon the sea, they did so as if watching the slow
progress of the ship, which was now standing in towards the land.
So very busy was sweet Ellen Armstrong, in catching each enthusiastic
word as it fell from the lips of Arthur Huntington, whilst he
eloquently descanted on the beauties of the island scenery--she was
scarcely aware of the near vicinity of her elder intruders, until Mary
Hamilton approached her closely and spoke as follows:
'Oh, Ellen, what a monopolizer you are of the attention of young
gentlemen. First, you led Mr. Henry Huntington in a wild goose chase
all around the island, and next, we find you holding a very
confidential 'tete-a-tete' with young Mr. Arthur. Such proceedings are
really too bad, and, as your watchful 'duenna,' I must enter my
serious protest against them.'
These words were spoken in a playful bantering kind of manner, which
caused the rich red blood to mantle over the face and neck of the
beautiful Ellen, whilst she answered in the same tone:
'I humbly crave your pardon, most gracious and prudent 'duenna,' for
having been the only one of the party who designed to treat the young
gentlemen to whom you have alluded, with ordinary civility.'
'She has you there, Mary,' exclaimed the earl, 'and it is now your
turn to blush for not doing the amiable to at least one of the twin
brothers.'
Before Mary could find words wherewith to reply to her uncle's
bantering speech, a low sweet strain of mournful music, fell suddenly
upon the ears of our astonished voyagers, which as it died slowly
away, like the departing imagery of a vivid dream, was succeeded
instantly by a loud shout of bacchanalian laughter, which echoed
wildly for a moment amongst the rocky cliffs of the island, then all
was calm and silent as before.
The surprise occasioned by these strange and mysterious sounds, caused
the earl and his companions to stand, for some moments after their
conclusion in a state of profound and bewildered silence, almost
breathlessly listening as if to hear them again repeated. But, they
listened in vain, for the strange sounds were no more heard, and the
painful silence which had overpowered our singular group of island
visitors, was soon after broken by the Earl of Derwentwater, who spoke
as follows:
'I really believe, that this place is a sort of mixture, composed of
equal portions of fairy land and satan's paradise, judging by the
different sounds which we have just heard.'
'The music must have proceeded from a flute,' said Arthur Huntington.
'And it must have been played by a master's hand,' interposed Mary
Hamilton.
'I can never believe that those were earthly sounds,' said Ellen
Armstrong, 'and I must say for one, I have no wish to remain here
longer.'
'You, surely, cannot be already tired of roaming about this lovely
spot,' exclaimed Mary Hamilton in a deprecating tone. 'I should have
thought, that after complaining as you have of the tediousness and
monotony of our sea voyage, you would be the last one to express a
wish to leave this beautiful island.'
'I have well appreciated the beauties of this quiet place,' replied
Ellen, 'but at the risk of being considered a very weak and simple
girl, I must own, that the mysterious sounds which just now fell upon
my ears, cannot be accounted for through any natural means, and as I
have no particular liking for supernatural adventures, I must persist
in my wish to go on board our good ship again, as soon as possible.'
As the fair Ellen finished her speech, light strains of the same
mysterious music which they had before heard, again floated through
the air above their heads, the same bacchanalian shouts of wild
laughter again fell upon their ears, but, as its last strange echo
died away, the surprise of our island visitors was greatly augmented
by the sudden appearance before them, of a tall and handsomely formed
man, 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 now call upon you in the name of England's King, to surrender
yourself immediately to me, as my prisoner.'
After giving utterance to a loud derisive laugh, whose echo as it
reverberated amongst the rocky cliffs, sounded like the fitful mirth
of numerous invisible demons, the pirate thus answered the bold
summons of the earl.
'You talk boldly for one whose brains I might instantly scatter to the
four winds of heaven. Know you not that you and your companions are in
my power?'
'I know,' replied the earl, 'that I and my companions by making an
easy signal, can soon be supported by an hundred stout hearts from
yonder ship, whose--'
'Ha, sayst thou so,' interrupted the stranger, 'I think that they will
soon have other business upon their hands. Look yonder.'