e communicated was distressing. The strange
vessel was a pirate, who had plundered them of every thing, had taken
away Madame de Fontanges, Mimi and Charlotte, her two female attendants.
The captain of the pirates had wounded, and severely beaten Monsieur de
Fontanges, who had resisted the "_enlevement_" of his wife; and, after
having cut away all the standing rigging, and nearly chopped through the
masts with axes, they had finished their work by boring holes in the
counter of the vessel; so that, had not Newton been able to come up with
her, they must all have perished during the night.

There was no time to be lost; the Marquis de Fontanges, Monsieur de
Fontanges, and the crew, were hurried on board of the Windsor Castle
(the pirate had taken care that they should not be delayed in packing up
their baggage,) and Newton, as soon as he returned on board, and hoisted
up his boat, crowded every stitch of canvas in pursuit of the pirate,
who was now more than four miles distant. But, although the wind
gradually increased, and was thus far in their favour, as they first
benefited by it, yet, as the sun went down, so did their hopes descend.
At night-fall the pirate had, increased her distance to seven miles.
Newton pursued, watching her with a night-glass until she could no
longer be distinguished. Still, their anxiety was so great, that no one
went to bed on board of the Windsor Castle. When the day broke, the
pirate was not to be discovered in any quarter of the horizon from the
mast-head of the Windsor Castle.

VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER TWELVE.

She stood a moment as a Pythoness
Stands on her tripod, agonised and full
Of inspiration gather'd from distress,
When all the heart-strings, like wild horses, pull
The heart asunder; then, as more or less
Their speed abated or their strength grew dull,
She sunk down on her seat by slow degrees,
And bow'd her throbbing head o'er trembling knees.
BYRON.

It was with deep regret that Newton gave directions for the ship's head
to be again directed on her course to England; but the property under
his charge was of too great value to warrant risking it by cruising
after the pirates, the superior sailing of whose vessel afforded no
hopes of success. The melancholy situation of Madame de Fontanges threw
a gloom over the party, which was communicated even to the seamen; while
the anguish of Monsieur de Fontanges, expressed with all the theatrical
violence ch