'Holy Virgin! who and what are you?' cried she, struggling to disengage herself.
'One who is very fond of a pretty girl!' replied the pirate, still detaining her.
'Unhand me, wretch!' cried Clara. 'Are you aware whom you are addressing?'
'Not I! nor do I care,' replied the pirate.
'You will perhaps, sir, when you learn that I am the daughter of the governor!' exclaimed Clara, pushing him away.
'Yes, by heavens! you are right, pretty lady, I do care; for a governor's daughter will fetch a good ransom, at all events. So come, my lads, a little help here; for she is as strong as a young mule. Never mind the water, throw the breakers into the boat again; we have a prize worth taking!'
Clara screamed; but she was gagged with a handkerchief and lifted into the boat, which immediately rowed back to the schooner.
When the mate came on board and reported his capture, the pirates were delighted at the prospect of addition to their prize-money. Cain could not, of course, raise any objections; it would have been so different from his general practice, that it would have strengthened suspicions already set afloat by Hawkhurst, which Cain was most anxious just then to remove. He ordered the girl to be taken down into the cabin, hoisted in the boat, and the breeze springing up again, made sail.
In the meantime Francisco was consoling the unfortunate Clara, and assuring her that she need be under no alarm, promising her protection from himself and the captain.
The poor girl wept bitterly, and it was not until Cain came down into the cabin and corroborated the assurances of Francisco that she could assume any degree of composure; but to find friends when she had expected every insult and degradation—for Francisco had acknowledged that the vessel was a pirate—was some consolation. The kindness and attention of Francisco restored her to comparative tranquillity.