But not quite done.  It was but half an hour before the time fixed for the pirate’s execution that Ben Greenway gained access to him.

“What!” cried Bonnet, raising his head from his hands.  “You here?  I thought I had done with you!”

“Ay, I am here,” said Ben Greenway.  “I hae stood by ye in good fortune an’ in bad fortune, an’ I hae never left ye, no matter what happened; an’ I told ye I would follow ye to the gates o’ hell, but I could go no farther.  I hae kept my word an’ here I stop.  Fareweel!”

“The only comfortable thing about this business,” said Bonnet, “is to know that at last I am rid of that fellow!”

CHAPTER XXXVIII

AGAIN DICKORY WAS THERE

There were indeed gay times in Spanish Town, and with the two loads lifted from her heart, Kate helped very much to promote the gaiety.  If this young lady had wished to make a good colonial match, she had opportunities enough for so doing, but she was not in that frame of mind, and encouraged no suitor.

But, bright as she was, she was not so bright as on that great and glorious day when she received Ben Greenway’s letter, telling her that her father was no longer a pirate.  There were several reasons for this gradually growing twilight of her happiness, and one was that no letter came from her father.  To be sure, there were many reasons why no letter should come.  There were no regular mails in these colonies which could be depended upon, and, besides, the new career of her father, sailing as a privateer under the king’s flag, would probably make it very difficult for him to send a letter to Jamaica by any regular or irregular method.  Moreover, her father was a miserable correspondent, and always had been.  Thus she comforted herself and was content, though not very well content, to wait.

Then there was another thing which troubled her, when she thought of it.  That good man and steady lover, Martin Newcombe, had written that he was coming to Spanish Town, and she knew very well what he was coming for and what he would say, but she did not know what she would say to him; and the thought of this troubled her.  In a letter she might put off the answer for which he had been so long and patiently waiting, but when she met him face to face there could be no more delay; she must tell him yes or no, and she was not ready to do this.

There was so much to think of, so many plans to be considered in regard to going back to Barbadoes or staying in Jamaica, that really she could not make up her mind, at least not until she had seen her father.  She would be so sorry if Mr. Newcombe came to Spanish Town before her father should arrive, or at least before she should hear from him.