covering himself in a moment, Albert said to Mrs. Templeton: "Your
husband is very jocose!"

"No, sir; he was serious in what he said. We are pirates. But you need
be under no apprehension of danger, nor feel the slightest alarm. I
know that you have been trained to believe that pirates are
necessarily devoid of humane feelings, and are ever thirsting for
blood. But I trust we are as hospitable and kind a people to our
guests, as are to be found on land."

Albert and Mary were indeed the guests of a piratical crew; but they
were soon relieved of all apprehension of personal danger; for there
was that in the deportment of all on board which satisfied them of a
sincere desire to serve and accommodate them in every way.

A few days brought them into such intimacy with the crew that they
spoke with freedom, even on the subject of piracy. They were indeed
astonished to find that even Mr. Gracelius advocated the claims of
pirates as a civilized and religious people.

On board the brig they had morning and evening prayers, and a lecture
one evening in the week, and two sermons on the Sabbath. What seemed
particularly remarkable was the sound evangelical faith of the Captain
and his family, and the unexceptionable doctrines that were preached
by their minister. There was so much fervor, earnestness, and pathos
in the sermons of Mr. Gracelius, that Mary was constrained to admit to
Mrs. Templeton that she had never heard better.

They had been on the brig about three weeks, without any event
calculated to disturb the sensibilities of our young friends, beyond
the unaccountably strange sentiments of the piratical crew. Everything
was conducted with so much order and propriety, good taste and moral
deportment, that they could scarcely believe at times otherwise than
that a mere sportive hoax was being played upon them.

But the tranquil, social pastimes were now interrupted by a new scene
of action.

It was a pleasant morning; a gentle breeze filled the sails. An
unusual arrangement of the vessel attracted the attention of Albert.
Soon he observed men at the guns, and Captain Templeton standing in a
commanding position. The brig was bearing down upon a French
merchantman.

Albert hastened to Mary, and disclosed to her the state of things.
Mary at first trembled, but soon composed herself with trust in God.
Albert, taking her arm into his, led her to where Captain Templeton
was standing:

"Captain," said Albert, "I perce