. . .Where, neither by pity moved nor shame, They crouched, till one of the sisters came To gather herbs for the noonday meal; Then out from under the leaves they steal! So she was taken, poor soul, and bound, And carried off to our camping ground. A harmless creature, who knew no more Of the world outside her convent door, Than you or I of the moon up there! A shame, to take her in such a snare! "But, Father, I wished that I had been Ten miles away, when they brought her in, To hold for ransom; or if that failed— Oh, well, we knew when the pirates sailed! We knew their captain, who paid us well, And carried our prisoners off to sell. They never beheld their country more, Being bought for slaves on a foreign shore. "But oh! 't was enough the tears to bring, To see that innocent, frightened thing, Looking, half hopeful, from face to face, As if she thought, in that wicked place, There might be one who would take her part! She looked at me, and it stung my. . . Read More