"Man proposes, and God disposes."
"Sister, look," said Serena, in a low sorrowful voice. Ah me, did I see rightly? With every sail set, that ominous, black, hateful vessel, the pirate ship, hove in sight, and ere we could collect our senses, or believe our eyes, she was anchoring in the bay.
CHAPTER XLII.
We sat down on the carpet of desperation and the stools of despair.
The pirates on shore seemed as bewildered as we were. The pirates on board seemed in a great state of confusion and uproar. A general running, hurrying, and scurrying took place among them all.
While those of the ship pointed vehemently to the sea, they of the land gesticulated violently towards the caverns, and both were equally eccentric in their observations regarding us. At last regular parties were organized, who began systematically, at the same time with the utmost rapidity, to unload their vessel; while the pirate king, hoisting a white flag, and attended by a few ferocious-looking followers, advanced towards our rock. By the captain's advice we hoisted a white rag of some sort, as a token of friendship, and in silence waited the result.
In bad French the pirate captain offered us terms for capitulation. He pointed out how useless it was for us now to think of repelling such numbers. That if we would come down quietly, we should be received with open arms ("and cut throats," murmured some one behind me); that they would engage their most sacred word of honour they would do us no harm ("much honour in a pirate," murmured the same voice); that there was plenty of room on the island for us all, and that we might choose which side we pleased, and they would take the other. All they wanted was peace and our friendship.
Our dear captain shook his head at all this civility, and fairly laughed at the offer of friendship. But he turned, as in duty bound, being spokesman, to take our opinion.