THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER. BY THE AUTHORESS OF "THE CONSPIRATOR." "Take with thee my most heavy curse."-RICHARD III. "I could Accuse my unkind destiny."-SHIRLEY. VOL. II. NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY ELY AND ROBINSON. 1845. ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of HOUEL AND MACOY, PRINTERS, 111 Nassau street. THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER. CHAPTER 1. In every heart Are sown the sparks of fiery war; Occasion needs but fan them, and they blaze. THE following morning the party returned to town. Many affectionate congratulations were offered on their singular escape, and various were the comments made on the conduct of the pirate; but all agreed that it was in keeping with many of his actions: at times yielding to the wildest excesses of his lawless band, and again, the generous protector of those who unhappily fell in their power. Pursuit was eagerly pressed on the authorities, and a band of gallant volunteers, from the élite of the city, proffered their services. "You can go, gentlemen," said the mayor, "but this pirate will find no difficulty in outsailing you, with so many hours' start." A dark, foreign-looking man, wearing an enormous pair of whiskers, stepped from the crowd, and bowing low to the mayor, said "You are quite right, sare. Le Clerc is in league with the powers of darkness. I was once one prisoner with him; he treated me like one prince, and tried to get me to join his band; but it would not do. While I was with him he was several times pursued, but in my opinion he never can be taken. He is the best seaman I ever have seen, and he has only to call for a wind, to have it sent. Pursue him now if you choose, but rely on my word you will never catch him napping. His schooner will to-day bear the black flag, and wear a mask of black paint, and to-morrow she will be as bright as the rainbow, sailing merrily along beneath the stars and stripes. You'll never overhaul him, gents, whatever you may think on the subject." The crowd eyed the speaker suspiciously. "How do we know that you are not one one of his men, now ?" said one. "Parbleu! monsieur, do you think I would risk my neck in the city, after such an exploit as this last? Not quite so ambitious of forming an acquaintance with Jack Ketch, I can tell you," making, as he spoke, a pantomimic representation of hanging, which drew a laugh from some of the bystanders. "It's against my interests, gentlemen," he continued, "to dissuade you from this enterprise, for I have the neatest little craft, and the swiftest sailer on these waters-which I will hire for a suitable compensation. If there is such a thing in nature as overhauling La Vengeance, the Swallow will perform the feat." After some farther conversation, a party accompanied the skipper to the levy, to examine into the capabilities of his boasted craft. The port of New Orleans, was even at that day a mart for the trade of every part of the civilized globe; and a goodly number of ships lay beside the levy, intermingled with a few small, clumsily-built steamboats for the application of that agent, which was destined to work wonders almost equal to those accomplished by the fabled genii of the East, was yet in its earlier stages. Captain Lenoir led the way to a small schooner whose slender masts and graceful outline promised well for speed. She appeared to be kept in the nicest order, and her decks were as delicately neat as the floor of a lady's parlor. From the peak drooped in gradual folds an azure flag, on which was embroidered a swallow on the wing. The cabin was beautifully finished. It was paneled with rose-wood, carved in an arabesque pattern, and ornamented with mirrors and engravings. Cut glass lamps hung from the ceiling, and the floor was covered with a carpet whose gorgeous dyes shamed the brightest flowers of the parterre. "Truly, my good Captain, you must be a perfect Sybarite," remarked Seymour, laughing. "Such a complete little palace for enjoyment on the high seas, I could scarcely have imagined." "Ah! monsieur, it is said that our nation know nothing of comfort; but I flatter myself they understand the art of making a fine appearance. I always had a taste for splendor, and a few years trading with the English taught me in what consisted comfort. See the effect! But you have not seen all." He touched a spring in the paneling, and a door VOL. II.-1* |