She ran toward the pirate, stamping her feet
"O father!" she cried. "They are carrying mother off in that boat! They must not! They shall not!"
She ran toward the pirate, stamping her feet very hard and commanding him to take her mother out of his boat. She was not crying now. She was very brave. She would save her mother and all the rest of her family from the dreadful pirates.
As the small, dark man looked at her, a smile came into his brown eyes. Then he threw back his head and laughed a loud, merry laugh.
"I really am not so bad a pirate as you think I am, little girl," he said, after a moment. "I have lived five years in your America, but I wanted to come back to my sunny Italy. I like the way you take care of your mother. I believe you are brave enough to stop a big ship out there on the bay and climb aboard her, just as a real pirate might do."
"Oh, no, I am not!" said Molly. "I am sure I am not!"
"Well, let's try it," said the man. "Your father and mother are willing. I am sure you will not object, if your little sister does not."
Now, May was clinging to her father's hand, looking very frightened indeed.
"If you are really a good pirate," said Molly at last, "and if you will not let anything happen to us, we will go with you. But you must take good care of my mother."