2. II.
“Very soon the pirate vessel came alongside of the peaceful
trader. Her wild and savage crew were ranged along the bulwarks,
each armed with cutlass and half a score of pistols conspicuous
in belt and bosom. Very terrible was the exhibition
which they made of wild beard and brutal aspect. With a torrent
of oaths, Blackbeard himself hailed the Frenchman, who
put on all his politeness in responding to the insolent demands
of his assailant. The vessels were lashed together by grapplings,
the pirates streamed on board, and a general search was
begun. Meanwhile, the young creole bride of Louis Chastaign
kept at her prayers below. Here she was found, and dragged
up to the deck at the command of the pirate-chief. The passengers,
all, and crew, were made to gather on the deck, under
the pistols of a score of the marauders, while the rest ransacked
the hold and cabin.
“The examination lasted not long. Blackbeard soon discovered
that the cargo was one for which he should have to find a
market. Its treasures were not readily portable, nor easily converted
into money. The gold and silver, jewels, and precious
stones, found in the trunks of the young French merchant,
though of considerable value, bore no proportion to the value of
the cargo, the bulk of which rendered it necessary that the vessel
should be carried into port. This necessity implied another.
The crew and passengers must be disposed of. As the scheme
presented itself to the mind of Blackbeard to have the vessel
condemned by the court of admiralty as a lawful prize, it needed
that he should be prepared to report that she was found abandoned
by her proper owners. This resolve required that he
should suffer no witnesses to live who might expose the true nature
of the transaction. He had no remorseful scruples, and
the decree was soon pronounced. The unhappy captives were
doomed to walk the plank.
“That is to say, all were thus doomed who should refuse to
join the pirate party. There was this terrible alternative to be
allowed them. Accordingly, having seen what were the treasures
of the ship, and fully satisfied himself of what she contained,
he reascended to the deck, where the unfortunate crew
were held in durance, pale and trembling, in waiting for their
fate. Brief consultation had been needed among the pirate-chiefs.
Blackbeard had given his opinion, in which the lieutenants
all concurred: and there was no consultation necessary
when they reappeared on deck.
“The terrible chief, closely followed by his new wife, the girl
of Pamplico, confronted the group of captives in all his terrors
of aspect, costume, and furious speech. His wife was scarcely
less a terror in the eyes of our young French creole woman.
She was habited only in part like a woman. She wore a skirt,
it is true, but the pantaloons of a man appeared beneath, and
she wore a sort of undress uniform frock-coat covered with rows
of massive golden buttons. On her shoulders were heavy epaulets;
on her head a dashing cap of fur, with a feather. Her
belt contained pistols, and a middy's dirk with glittering handle.
She lacked nothing but a heavy mustache to make her as terrible
in the eyes of the young French husband as in those of his
wife. To make the portrait more revolting, we must add that
her face was reddened and bloated with free use of the wine cup,
and her eyes fiery, yet moist, from the same unnatural practice.
The rest of the pirates need not be described. It will suffice to
say, that in their costume and equipment nothing had been
omitted which might exaggerate to the mind of the captives, the
terrible character of the profession they pursued.
“The pirate-chief addressed the captain of the Frenchman
with words of blood and thunder. The latter answered with
words of weakness and submission. The former without scruple
declared the only alternative to death which he allowed.
“`Are you prepared to join us against the world? We are
free men of the seas. We are of no nation. We own no laws
except those of our own making. Swear to obey our laws, join
our crews, sail under the black flag and the bloody head, and
take your share with us, of the cargo of your ship!'
“A dead silence answered him.
“`Swear!' and the black flag was waved before their faces.
“`Will my lord pardon us?' answered the captain for the
rest. `Will my lord take what we have and suffer us to go in
peace? I only plead that our lives may be spared.'
“`Your lives are our deaths, unless you join with us. You
have five minutes for deliberation. Swear, by the black flag,—
kiss the bloody head, and, on your knees, take the oath, or you
walk the plank every mother's son of you.'
“A dead silence again followed. Meanwhile, the creole wife,
crouching in the rear of her husband, who stood immediately
behind the captain, involuntarily took from her bosom the cross
of black ebony, and, sinking silently upon her knees, pressed it
to her lips, while they parted, in unuttered prayers to Heaven.
“The movement did not escape the ruffian. He was now reminded
of the woman whom he had sent up from below. In the
dim light of the cabin, he had not distinguished her features. A
single glance now sufficed to show him their loveliness.
“`Ha!' he exclaimed — `who have we here?' and passing
rapidly through the group of captives he seized her where she
knelt. With a shriek she held up the cross. He tore it from
her hand, looked at it but an instant, then dashed it to the
deck, and crushed it under his feet — accompanying the profane
act with a horrid oath. The captain of the Frenchman groaned
aloud. The pirate-chief still held his grasp upon the lady. She
struggled to free herself, and cried out: —
“`Save me, husband!'
“The appeal was irresistible. Desperate as was the attempt,
the young French merchant, drawing forth a pistol concealed in
his bosom, levelled it at the head of the pirate and drew the
trigger. The bullet only ruffled the monstrous whisker of the
ruffian. It had been aimed well, but, in the moment when the
trigger was pulled, the arm of the young merchant had been
struck up by one of the nearest pirates. Baffled in the desperate
deed, the merchant dashed upon Blackbeard with the famishing
cry of the panther striving for her young; and strove, with more
certain dagger, to mend the failure of his first attempt. But he
might as well have cast his slight form against the bulk of a
mountain. His blow was thrown upward, the stroke parried,
and he himself stricken down with a blow from the butt of a
carbine, which covered his head and face instantly with blood.
“`My husband! oh! my husband!' cried the wretched
woman, now seeking again to break away from that iron grasp
which never once relaxed its hold upon her. In vain.
“`Fling the carrion overboard. Sharks are not made to go
hungry.'
“He was remorselessly obeyed; and, partly stunned, but conscious,
Louis Chastaign was lifted in half a dozen stalwart arms,
and thrust over into the yawning sea. Then the wife broke
away; — but, ere she reached the side of the vessel, she was
again in the grasp of the ruffian. She never saw her husband
more. His head appeared but a moment upon the surface — his
hands were thrown upward, then his shriek was heard — a single
piercing shriek of agony; and when the French captain looked
upon the sea, it was colored with blood, and he could perceive
the white sides of the glancing sharks, a dozen of them, as they
were tugging, below the surface, at their living victim!
