“I claim nothing beyond the mercy any helpless woman might ask for on board a captured vessel,” she answered at length; “and if you would save me from further suffering, I would pray that you would put my father and me, with our friend, on shore at the nearest spot at which you can land us. The vessel and cargo are yours, by right of conquest, but you can gain nothing by keeping us prisoners.”
“You are mistaken, Miss Tracy,” said the pirate; “I can gain everything which for long years it has been my fond desire to obtain. You recognise me, I am sure, and you cannot have forgotten the deep—the devoted love I have expressed for you. Promise me that you will no longer despise it, and your father and his friend shall not only be protected, but treated with every respect and attention they can require.”
This address increased rather than allayed Norah’s alarm.
“Oh, what shall I say to him?” she whispered to her father. “For your sake and Captain O’Brien’s, I would not, if I can help it, arouse his anger.”
Norah was, however, saved from the difficult task of answering the pirate by the appearance of one of his officers, who came to summon him on deck, that he might give his orders for the management of the two vessels. He hurried away, and left the trio to consult as to the best mode of treating him. He was for some time absent, the shouting of the officers and the tramping of the men’s feet overhead showing that various operations were going forward on deck.
“You spoke well and bravely, Norah,” exclaimed Captain O’Brien, after her father had placed her on the sofa, that she might the better attempt to recover from the fearful agitation she was suffering; “keep to that tone. Don’t tell him how you fear and dislike him, but don’t let him suppose that you are ready to consent to any proposals he may make. Humour him as much as you can, and above all things don’t allude to Owen, or let him discover that he has a rival in the affection he asks you to bestow on him.”
“Oh no, indeed I will not,” said Norah; “and for my father’s sake and yours, I will do all I can to soften his temper and make him treat you well.”
“I wish you to do as Captain O’Brien suggests, for your own sake rather than for ours,” observed her father. “We may defy him, as he can only murder us; but we wish to live that we may protect you. At present he appears to be in a tolerably good humour, and well he may, after capturing our good ship and her valuable cargo. He would rather have found her laden with ingots and chests of dollars; but she’s a richer prize to him than the Ouzel Galley could have been, laden with hogsheads of sugar.”
“The Ouzel Galley!” exclaimed Norah. “Has she fallen into that man’s hands? Oh, father! has he, then, got Owen in his power?”
“He’s not likely to have taken Owen’s ship without capturing Owen too; but we know that he could not have put him to death, or Owen couldn’t have sent us the message we received,” answered her father.