The flag of the _Jacob Bell_--claimed as a prize by the pirates--was to be taken with us on board their vessel; and Captain Frisbie laying it over the chair in which his wife and I were to be placed, in order to be hoisted into the boat, we gathered the loose folds into our laps, so as to partly cover us. The gleam of comfort and sunshine that flashed through my confused brain when my eye first rested on one particular star in those folds can never be forgotten. It was still a star of hope and trust, making even the heart of a feeble and unprotected woman glow with an emotion of joyful pride in that she was permitted to suffer in a cause like that of constitutional liberty; which, next to our holy religion, is more sacred and precious than anything else for which man can be called upon to lay down his life. When we were alongside the _Florida_, the officer who had us in charge, while re-arranging the chair in which we were to be re-hoisted on deck, proposed substituting the rebel flag in place of our own; but our captain, with prudent tact, in an apparently indifferent manner, said,--“This will do just as well,”--whereupon, no objection being made, we were again wrapped in our own colors, which was doubtless the last honorable service of the flag of the ill-fated _Jacob Bell_. On being lowered to the deck of the steamer, and freed from our chair-tackling, I heard a rather cultivated voice on my right, saying,--“Please take my arm, madam.” I saw nothing, for my first glance at the deck and the rough men with upturned faces rudely gazing as I hung in the air, had caused both head and eyes to droop. But woman’s natural instinct, when in a position of fearful suffering and rude exposure, to readily and gratefully receive civility and protection,--no matter from what source it may come,--led me to accept the proffered arm, and suffer myself to be conducted by Captain Maffit,--the leader of this band of buccaneers, (as he proved to be,)--to his cabin. This was done with a cool _sang-froid_, and also with the patronizing, host-like air of one about offering the most agreeable hospitality. Soon the whole of our party were in the cabin, which we were told was at our disposal; and also that the captain’s private state-room, leading out of it, could be occupied by one of the ladies. It was, however, only appropriated by us for one night, it being dark and close; and we therefore abandoned it for sleeping-purposes, greatly preferring the cabin lockers, where mattresses--some of them taken from the _Jacob Bell_--were placed, and the remainder of our party slept.