_The Island of Trinidad. Landing of the Earl of Derwentwater
and his party upon the Isle--Its Enchanted Scenery. Unnatural
Sounds. Sudden appearance of the Notorious Pirate Blackbeard._
Situated upon the broad bosom of the vast Atlantic Ocean, about two
hundred leagues from the coast of Brazil, is a small but fertile island,
which has retained from the period of its first discovery, the familiar
name of Trinidad. This beautiful island, although a lovely and
sequestered spot, has been for various general reasons, but rarely
visited by the hardy mariners of the deep, and never permanently settled
or inhabited by man. Its surface is agreeably diversified with high
hills and low beautiful valleys, whilst its circumference is almost
wholly surrounded by a chain of dark, rocky cliffs, which gives to this
remote island a somewhat fantastic appearance to the eye of the
beholder, as he approaches it from the sea. On this circumscribed but
favored spot of earth, nature seems to have reveled in almost boundless
profusion, scattering here and there throughout its valleys her choicest
favors, in the shape of delicious tropical fruits, and ever green
luxuriant herbage, whose fragrance as it mingled with the pure fresh
breeze of the ocean, has proved to be a sweet balsam of health to many a
sick and weary mariner as he sailed within reach of its invigorating
influence. Although this fair island possessed no convenient harbor for
its vessels of any class, still there was upon its southern side, a
small piece of white sandy beach, upon which a single boat might easily
land, and here upon this same spot, a boat did land about an hour after
sunrise, on the thirty-first day of October, 1717.
The boat in question, was occupied by six persons, who, as soon as its
keel grazed upon the clear white sand, immediately disembarked and
dispersed themselves singly and by twos, in different directions for the
purpose of enjoying a short ramble amongst the shady trees and fragrant
foliage of the island.
The party to which we have alluded, consisted of the Earl of
Derwentwater, a noble looking gentleman, who, apparently had but just
spent the prime of life,--his fair niece, Mary Hamilton, a stately and
beautiful girl, about twenty-three years of age,--Arthur Huntington and
his twin brother, Henry--a huge red headed but fat and good natured son
of the 'Emerald Isle,' who acted in the capacity of servant to the earl,
and last, though by no means least, a beautiful golden haired, cherry
cheerful nymph of fourteen, whom for the sake of a name we shall call
Ellen Armstrong.
After having rambled about for a short space of time, the earl and his
fair niece suddenly encountered each other on the brow of a rising
eminence, when the latter then accosted her companion:
'Dear uncle, this lovely island seems to me, like a miniature paradise,
wherein I could always wish to live as long as the precious boon of life
should be granted unto me.'
'I declare, Mary,' replied the earl, as a slight smile passed over his
noble countenance, 'you appear to be an enthusiast in every thing. I
grant, that this is a beautiful spot, yet not to be compared in my
estimation, even for a moment, with my lovely park near London, in merry
old England.'
'But, you forget, dear uncle,' replied Mary Hamilton, 'that our English
parks are not now what they once were.'
'How so, Mary, do not the staunch old oaks, grow to a height as lofty as
of yore?'
'Perhaps they do, but still, uncle, there is too much art mixed up with
nature, in our English scenery. Here all is nature.'
'And I think you must be a very great lover of it, if you prefer this
hilly, iron bound island, to the level green sward of Derwent park,'
replied the earl.
'I must still plead guilty of the charge of loving nature as it is,
uncle,' responded Mary. 'I have seen it in a great variety of forms. I
have viewed its high grandeur amid the forests and mountains of America;
but never before this hour, have I ever seen it so pure, so serene, and
so calmly beautiful.'
'I must needs own, that this is at present, a quiet place enough,'
answered the earl, 'but do you not know, dear Mary, that even here, the
face of nature is oft times suddenly changed, by the awful sweep of the
howling hurricane, or the thundering shock of the subterraneous
earthquake.'
'Why, I really believe, that you are getting to be enthusiastic now,
dear uncle,' replied Mary Hamilton, 'but we cannot exactly agree, I move
that we drop the subject forthwith.'
'And I second the motion,' laughingly responded the noble earl.--'But
look at the ship, Mary, and see, she is almost hull down in the
distance.'
The vessel to which the earl alluded, the white sails of which were just
visible to his eyes and those of his companion, from the eminence on
which they stood, was the honorable East India Company's ship Gladiator,
to which belonged the boat that had conveyed the Earl and his party to
the shore, in the manner before related. She was bound to Rio Janeiro,
from thence to Batavia, and as they had a long passage from the Downs,
Captain Rowland was easily persuaded to allow his distinguished
passenger the long coveted recreation of visiting the small though
beautiful island of Trinidad.
'Rowland is going to make a long tack, this time I guess,' continued the
earl, as they both stood watching the still lessening sails of the huge
Indiaman.
'Suppose, dear uncle, replied Mary Hamilton, 'that this Captain Rowland
should sail away and leave us here upon this remote island.'
'Then you would have a most excellent chance to study nature as it is,'
responded the earl playfully. 'But Rowland would never dare to do any
such foolish thing as that to which you have alluded.'
'It may be so, uncle, but still I must sincerely confess, that there is
something about this Captain Rowland and his general conduct which I by
no means like.'
'Oh, you are too fastidious, dear Mary,' replied the earl, 'for I am
sure that as far as my observation has gone, Captain Rowland has
conducted himself thus far during our voyage, in a very kind and
gentlemanly manner.'
'Your observation has not extended as far as mine, uncle, if it had you
would have noticed the sardonic and sinister expression of this
captain's countenance, as he oft times gazed upon the fair form of sweet
Ellen Armstrong.'
'What a suspicious mortal you are, Mary. Why, I would trust Rowland's
honor amongst a thousand Ellen Armstrongs, or Mary Hamiltons either.'
'God grant that your trust in his good intentions may be well founded,'
replied Mary seriously, then adroitly turning the conversation, she
continued, 'see uncle, there is Arthur Huntington and Ellen Armstrong at
the bottom of the hill--let us join them.'
Having thus spoken, Mary Hamilton accepted the aid of the earl's
proffered arm, and both together leisurely descended the hill, intently
gazing upon the sea, they did so as if watching the slow progress of the
ship, which was now standing in towards the land.
So very busy was sweet Ellen Armstrong, in catching each enthusiastic
word as it fell from the lips of Arthur Huntington, whilst he eloquently
descanted on the beauties of the island scenery--she was scarcely aware
of the near vicinity of her elder intruders, until Mary Hamilton
approached her closely and spoke as follows:
'Oh, Ellen, what a monopolizer you are of the attention of young
gentlemen. First, you led Mr. Henry Huntington in a wild goose chase all
around the island, and next, we find you holding a very confidential
'tete-a-tete' with young Mr. Arthur. Such proceedings are really too
bad, and, as your watchful 'duenna,' I must enter my serious protest
against them.'
These words were spoken in a playful bantering kind of manner, which
caused the rich red blood to mantle over the face and neck of the
beautiful Ellen, whilst she answered in the same tone:
'I humbly crave your pardon, most gracious and prudent 'duenna,' for
having been the only one of the party who designed to treat the young
gentlemen to whom you have alluded, with ordinary civility.'
'She has you there, Mary,' exclaimed the earl, 'and it is now your turn
to blush for not doing the amiable to at least one of the twin
brothers.'
Before Mary could find words wherewith to reply to her uncle's bantering
speech, a low sweet strain of mournful music, fell suddenly upon the
ears of our astonished voyagers, which as it died slowly away, like the
departing imagery of a vivid dream, was succeeded instantly by a loud
shout of bacchanalian laughter, which echoed wildly for a moment
amongst the rocky cliffs of the island, then all was calm and silent as
before.
The surprise occasioned by these strange and mysterious sounds, caused
the earl and his companions to stand, for some moments after their
conclusion in a state of profound and bewildered silence, almost
breathlessly listening as if to hear them again repeated. But, they
listened in vain, for the strange sounds were no more heard, and the
painful silence which had overpowered our singular group of island
visitors, was soon after broken by the Earl of Derwentwater, who spoke
as follows:
'I really believe, that this place is a sort of mixture, composed of
equal portions of fairy land and satan's paradise, judging by the
different sounds which we have just heard.'
'The music must have proceeded from a flute,' said Arthur Huntington.
'And it must have been played by a master's hand,' interposed Mary
Hamilton.
'I can never believe that those were earthly sounds,' said Ellen
Armstrong, 'and I must say for one, I have no wish to remain here
longer.'
'You, surely, cannot be already tired of roaming about this lovely
spot,' exclaimed Mary Hamilton in a deprecating tone. 'I should have
thought, that after complaining as you have of the tediousness and
monotony of our sea voyage, you would be the last one to express a wish
to leave this beautiful island.'
'I have well appreciated the beauties of this quiet place,' replied
Ellen, 'but at the risk of being considered a very weak and simple girl,
I must own, that the mysterious sounds which just now fell upon my ears,
cannot be accounted for through any natural means, and as I have no
particular liking for supernatural adventures, I must persist in my wish
to go on board our good ship again, as soon as possible.'
As the fair Ellen finished her speech, light strains of the same
mysterious music which they had before heard, again floated through the
air above their heads, the same bacchanalian shouts of wild laughter
again fell upon their ears, but, as its last strange echo died away, the
surprise of our island visitors was greatly augmented by the sudden
appearance before them, of a tall and handsomely formed man,
effeminately dressed in loose Turkish trousers of crimson silk, which
were elegantly matched by a loose tunic of the same color and
texture.--This was fastened to his person by a red silken sash, which
also confined in its soft but close embrace, a large pair of pistols and
a small Spanish stiletto of the most costly workmanship. The head of
this strange being was covered with a crimson cap, and his countenance,
might have been truely termed handsome, had not the lower part of it
been enveloped in a mass of long black hair, which gave to its possessor
an air of wild and savage ferocity. (_See Engraving._)
'What strange apparition is this,' exclaimed the earl involuntarily, as
this singular personage stood erect before him.
'I am no apparition, sir,' exclaimed the stranger, in a voice so finely
modulated, that it might have been easily taken for a woman's, 'but a
substantial specimen of vigorous life, who kindly bids you welcome to
the pirates' palace.'
'And, who, then are you?' exclaimed the undaunted Earl, altering his
voice to a deep, rough tone. The stranger smiled sardonically upon the
group before him as he answered:
'I am BLACKBEARD, the far-famed Pirate of the Roanoke!'
Upon hearing these dread words, sweet Ellen Armstrong was obliged to
lean tremblingly for support, upon the arm of Arthur Huntington, whilst
the stout hearted Earl again addressed the stranger as follows:
'If you are indeed the person whom you have represented yourself to be,
learn that I have often heard of your murderous exploits before, and I
now call upon you in the name of England's King, to surrender yourself
immediately to me, as my prisoner.'
After giving utterance to a loud derisive laugh, whose echo as it
reverberated amongst the rocky cliffs, sounded like the fitful mirth of
numerous invisible demons, the pirate thus answered the bold summons of
the earl.
'You talk boldly for one whose brains I might instantly scatter to the
four winds of heaven. Know you not that you and your companions are in
my power?'
'I know,' replied the earl, 'that I and my companions by making an easy
signal, can soon be supported by an hundred stout hearts from yonder
ship, whose--'
'Ha, sayst thou so,' interrupted the stranger, 'I think that they will
soon have other business upon their hands. Look yonder.'