So intent was the aged priest on watching the recovery of the young lady under his care, that he did not even raise his eyes from her face during the above unexpected recognition of father and son. But when the captain approached the object of his solicitude, he suddenly rose, and, throwing himself at his feet, implored him, in the most moving accents, to spare the innocence and honor of the young and helpless lady.
The captain, with what could be construed into a smile, bade him be re-assured.
“Fear not, old man,” he said, “for the innocence and honor of any one on my account; I value my time much, and cannot spare a moment of it, either to blight the innocence or rob the honor of damsels;—continue your attention to the young lady.” He then walked up to the seat at the top of the cabin table, and deliberately and coolly sitting down, ordered his men to search for the ship’s papers and bring them to him.
There was not much difficulty in discovering these, for the steward, who had carefully concealed himself in his pantry during the attack, seeing that there was no longer any bloodshed, now crept out of his hiding-place, and offered his services to the searching pirates, on condition that his life should be spared. By means of his assistance, the papers of the captured vessel were immediately rummaged out, and handed to the pirate captain.
He glanced over them for a time, and at length musingly said, as if speaking to himself,—“The owners are rich, and they can afford to yield up this cargo to better men than themselves.” He then delivered the papers to one of his men, and ordered the passengers’ luggage to be searched. In the trunks of these were found large sums in doubloons and other gold coins,—money that had, no doubt, been destined to the buying of many a European luxury.
The search went on; and when the cabin had been completely rifled of every thing that was valuable, the captain proceeded on deck, and was followed by his men, and the passengers, who were now prisoners.
The pirates had, by this time, thoroughly examined the cargo of the vessel, and had found it to consist principally of the staple productions of the West Indies—sugar and rum—together with a small quantity of other minor commodities, such as tobacco and indigo. A great portion of these light things was already collected on the deck, where the pirates were assembled, waiting for their chief.
“What has she?” inquired this personage, when he gained the deck.
“Sugar and rum, your excellency,” one of the officers answered, and remained in silence before his superior, awaiting his orders.
The captain seemed to consider awhile, and then replied: “Stay here, and retain a man with you.”