“I will not wait!” exclaimed Bonnet.  “I don’t dare to look into her eyes.  Behold these clothes, consider my mean employment.  Shall I abash myself before my daughter?”

“Master Bonnet,” exclaimed Greenway, hastily stepping to the doorway through which the captain had departed, “ye shallna tie yoursel’ to the skirts o’ the de’il; ye shallna run awa’ an’ hide yoursel’ from your daughter wha seeks, in tears an’ groans, for her unworthy father.  Sit down, Master Bonnet, an’ wait here until your good daughter comes.”

The Belinda’s captain had intended to send his boat back to his vessel, but now he determined to take her himself.  This was such a strange situation that it might need explanation.

Kate screamed when he made known his errand.  “What!” she cried, “my father in the town, and did he not come back with you?  Is he sick?  Is he wounded?  Is he in chains?”

“And my Dickory,” cried Dame Charter, “was he not there?  Has he not yet returned to the town?  It must now be a long time since he went away.”

“I know not anything more than I have told you,” said the captain.  “And if Mr. Delaplaine and the two ladies will get into my boat, I will quickly take you to the town and show you where you may find Captain Bonnet and learn all you wish to know.”

“And Dickory,” cried Dame Charter, “my son Dickory!  Did they give you no news of him?”

“Come along, come along,” said the captain, “my men are waiting in the boat.  I asked no questions, but in ten minutes you can ask a hundred if you like.”

When the little party reached the town it attracted a great deal of attention from the rough roisterers who were strolling about or gambling in shady places.  When the captain of the Belinda mentioned, here and there, that these newcomers were the family of Blackbeard’s factor, who now had charge of that pirate’s interests in the town, no one dared to treat the elderly gentleman, the pretty young lady, or the rotund dame with the slightest disrespect.  The name of the great pirate was a safe protection even when he who bore it was leagues and leagues away.

At the door of the storehouse Ben Greenway stood waiting.  He would have hurried down to the pier had it not been that he was afraid to leave Bonnet; afraid that this shamefaced ex-pirate would have hurried away to hide himself from his daughter and his friends.  Kate, running forward, grasped the Scotchman by both hands.

“And where is he?” she cried.

“He is in there,” said Ben, pointing through the storeroom to the open door at the back.  In an instant she was gone.

“And Dickory?” cried Dame Charter.  “Oh, Ben Greenway, tell me of my boy.”

They went inside and Greenway told everything he knew, which was very much, although it was not enough to comfort the poor mother’s heart, who could not readily believe that because Dickory had sailed away with a great and powerful pirate, that eminent man would be sure to bring him back in safety; but as Greenway really believed this, his words made some impression on the good dame’s heart.  She could see some reason to believe that Blackbeard, having now so much property in the town, might make a short cruise this time, and that any day the Revenge, with her dear son on board, might come sailing into port.