{"product_id":"2940016069777","title":"Blackbeard","description":"CHAPTER I.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    _The Island of Trinidad. Landing of the Earl of Derwentwater\u003cbr\u003e    and his party upon the Isle--Its Enchanted Scenery. Unnatural\u003cbr\u003e    Sounds. Sudden appearance of the Notorious Pirate Blackbeard._\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSituated upon the broad bosom of the vast Atlantic Ocean, about two\u003cbr\u003ehundred leagues from the coast of Brazil, is a small but fertile island,\u003cbr\u003ewhich has retained from the period of its first discovery, the familiar\u003cbr\u003ename of Trinidad. This beautiful island, although a lovely and\u003cbr\u003esequestered spot, has been for various general reasons, but rarely\u003cbr\u003evisited by the hardy mariners of the deep, and never permanently settled\u003cbr\u003eor inhabited by man. Its surface is agreeably diversified with high\u003cbr\u003ehills and low beautiful valleys, whilst its circumference is almost\u003cbr\u003ewholly surrounded by a chain of dark, rocky cliffs, which gives to this\u003cbr\u003eremote island a somewhat fantastic appearance to the eye of the\u003cbr\u003ebeholder, as he approaches it from the sea. On this circumscribed but\u003cbr\u003efavored spot of earth, nature seems to have reveled in almost boundless\u003cbr\u003eprofusion, scattering here and there throughout its valleys her choicest\u003cbr\u003efavors, in the shape of delicious tropical fruits, and ever green\u003cbr\u003eluxuriant herbage, whose fragrance as it mingled with the pure fresh\u003cbr\u003ebreeze of the ocean, has proved to be a sweet balsam of health to many a\u003cbr\u003esick and weary mariner as he sailed within reach of its invigorating\u003cbr\u003einfluence. Although this fair island possessed no convenient harbor for\u003cbr\u003eits vessels of any class, still there was upon its southern side, a\u003cbr\u003esmall piece of white sandy beach, upon which a single boat might easily\u003cbr\u003eland, and here upon this same spot, a boat did land about an hour after\u003cbr\u003esunrise, on the thirty-first day of October, 1717.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe boat in question, was occupied by six persons, who, as soon as its\u003cbr\u003ekeel grazed upon the clear white sand, immediately disembarked and\u003cbr\u003edispersed themselves singly and by twos, in different directions for the\u003cbr\u003epurpose of enjoying a short ramble amongst the shady trees and fragrant\u003cbr\u003efoliage of the island.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe party to which we have alluded, consisted of the Earl of\u003cbr\u003eDerwentwater, a noble looking gentleman, who, apparently had but just\u003cbr\u003espent the prime of life,--his fair niece, Mary Hamilton, a stately and\u003cbr\u003ebeautiful girl, about twenty-three years of age,--Arthur Huntington and\u003cbr\u003ehis twin brother, Henry--a huge red headed but fat and good natured son\u003cbr\u003eof the 'Emerald Isle,' who acted in the capacity of servant to the earl,\u003cbr\u003eand last, though by no means least, a beautiful golden haired, cherry\u003cbr\u003echeerful nymph of fourteen, whom for the sake of a name we shall call\u003cbr\u003eEllen Armstrong.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter having rambled about for a short space of time, the earl and his\u003cbr\u003efair niece suddenly encountered each other on the brow of a rising\u003cbr\u003eeminence, when the latter then accosted her companion:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Dear uncle, this lovely island seems to me, like a miniature paradise,\u003cbr\u003ewherein I could always wish to live as long as the precious boon of life\u003cbr\u003eshould be granted unto me.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I declare, Mary,' replied the earl, as a slight smile passed over his\u003cbr\u003enoble countenance, 'you appear to be an enthusiast in every thing. I\u003cbr\u003egrant, that this is a beautiful spot, yet not to be compared in my\u003cbr\u003eestimation, even for a moment, with my lovely park near London, in merry\u003cbr\u003eold England.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'But, you forget, dear uncle,' replied Mary Hamilton, 'that our English\u003cbr\u003eparks are not now what they once were.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'How so, Mary, do not the staunch old oaks, grow to a height as lofty as\u003cbr\u003eof yore?'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Perhaps they do, but still, uncle, there is too much art mixed up with\u003cbr\u003enature, in our English scenery. Here all is nature.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'And I think you must be a very great lover of it, if you prefer this\u003cbr\u003ehilly, iron bound island, to the level green sward of Derwent park,'\u003cbr\u003ereplied the earl.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I must still plead guilty of the charge of loving nature as it is,\u003cbr\u003euncle,' responded Mary. 'I have seen it in a great variety of forms. I\u003cbr\u003ehave viewed its high grandeur amid the forests and mountains of America;\u003cbr\u003ebut never before this hour, have I ever seen it so pure, so serene, and\u003cbr\u003eso calmly beautiful.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I must needs own, that this is at present, a quiet place enough,'\u003cbr\u003eanswered the earl, 'but do you not know, dear Mary, that even here, the\u003cbr\u003eface of nature is oft times suddenly changed, by the awful sweep of the\u003cbr\u003ehowling hurricane, or the thundering shock of the subterraneous\u003cbr\u003eearthquake.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Why, I really believe, that you are getting to be enthusiastic now,\u003cbr\u003edear uncle,' replied Mary Hamilton, 'but we cannot exactly agree, I move\u003cbr\u003ethat we drop the subject forthwith.'","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47101112189168,"sku":"2940016069777","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940016069777","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}