Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-25
CHAPTER XIII.

Tropical Jea,lties-the Pirates home-the Re
past-tle Prison Of Wealth-the Hterriet0
Sharp observation-disclosures and defiance.
Nicholas was different man when he
stepped on shore among his guilty COM
rades The humane feelings that warmed
his bosom with manly emotions when death
stood over him few hours before, all for
sock him, and his evil passions and base
desires swayed his actions aud feelings
again He ordered his men to tie the cap
tain and Jacques, which was done without
struggle Poor men! they were unable
to offer resistance "A stupor came over
Agnes when she saw this proceeding on the
part of her captor, AMI she sank upon the
beech overpowered with emotion. Nicho-
las motioned to one of his men, and the
maiden was raised from the ground, and
the procession moved through the woods, a
rough and hidcous servant leading Agnes
along the path.
Under less painful and trying circum-
stances the captives would have been de-
lighted with the scene before them a lux
urious tropical vegetation was waving In
the balmy breeze; the sloping banks were
covered with rich carpet of lustrous green,
studded with flowers displaying thousand
tints magnificent trees, some loaded with
a soft, feathery foliage, others pendent with
glossy, fan shaped leaves, shut out the hot
rays of the sun from the sylvan retreat
the birds, joyous in the liberty of wing and
song, futtered and caroled to their mates,
decked with bright feathers, tipped with
green and gold, in the sleepy branches
the clear sky above-the CLASSY surface of
the limpid water behind-the soft and juicy
grass beneath-the shady retreat in front,
vocal with bird-songs of every key-all de-
noted peace-and happiness-and unmo-
Tested joys. 1t was the peace and quiet of
Nature, not of man and his aspirations to
the captives it was gorgeous prison, and
among the thousand beauties adorning it no
ray Of hope for deliverance entered. They
were entranced by the glory of Nature a.
round them and stupefed By the reaction
of the emotions in the inner temple of the
heart, and they followed the pirate band
submissively.
Following the path an hundred yards
they found themselves in a dark amphithea-
ire in the bosom of dense woods On all
sides tall trees lifted their swelling tops a.
loft, darkening the air, and casting deep
shade on the fiat below. Vines and cluster
ing bushes were thickly interwoven through
the bodies of the trees on all sides save
nearest the sea, and on one side a ledge of
messy rocks reared their cold wall up to-
wards the clouds as if it had been formed
a battlement to ward Of all that was impure
and unholy from its balmy precinct. The
u .
holy tabernicle, shaped at the foundation Of
the world, where man might set in holy
places and commune in prayer with his
Father, with naught to disturb the sacred
quiet or intercept from his view holy things
in the upper Temple, but the weakness O.
mortal capacities and the grossness of his
material being. But the sacred spot hac
been pollutedb by the presence of wicked men
and at its very verge stood the home of {
guilty wretch who made blood and carnag
his means of life and its luxries
In front Of the Pirates den the proces
sion halted and nourishment was brough
out and spread upon a rough table Tn
E freebooter and his fair Captive seated them
selves and partook, while occasionally
scrap would be thrown to Jacques and tn
captain, who were seated on the ground.
The repast was finished and the freeboOt
er ordered Agnes to his home. She wa
; conveyed thither by servant, and the tive
? other captives were confined in another par
, of the cabin.
!, The exterior of the freebooter's cabil
was rough and uncouth in its appearance
but the apartment where Agnes was con
/ fined was of the most magnificent character
| She found upon entering it that it was muc
larger than one would think, contemplatin
| the front of the cabin for it ran back som
: thirty five feet or more. Large mirror
; were leaned against the gilded walls, reAe,
Q ting the rich hues of the brilliant carpe
( soft to the foot, displaying its golden colol
). on the floor. Curtains of the most cost
fabric hung over the windows and droppe
II their yelyetry fringe to the floor of thefr