“Black-hearted?” inquired Bonnet, but without any surprise in his voice.

“Ay,” said Ben, “if there’s onything blacker than his heart, only Satan himsel’ ever looked at it.  It was to be sailin’ this ship on his own account that he’s had in his villainous soul ever since he came on board; an’ I can tell ye, Master Bonnet, that it won’t be long now before he’s doin’ it.  I had me eye on him when he was on board the Amanda, an’ I saw that the scoundrel was goin’ to separate the ships.”

“That was my will,” said Bonnet, “although I did not order it.”

Ben gave a little grunt.  “Ay,” said he, “hopin’ to leave me behind just as he was hopin’ to leave ye behind.  But neither o’ ye got your wills, an’ it’ll be the de’il that’ll have a hand in the next leavin’ behind that’s likely to be done.”

Bonnet made no reply to these remarks, having suddenly spied Black Paul.

“Look here,” said he, stepping up to that sombre-hued personage, “can you sail a ship?”

The other looked at Bonnet in astonishment.  “I should say so,” said he.  “I have commanded vessels before now.”

“Here then,” said Bonnet, “I want a sailing-master.  I am not satisfied with this Big Sam.  I am no navigator myself, but I want a better man than that fellow to sail my ship for me.”

Black Paul looked hard at him but made no answer.

“He thinks he is sailing the ship for himself,” said Bonnet, “and it would be a bad day for you men if he did.”

“That indeed would it,” said Black Paul; “a close-fisted scoundrel, as I know him to be.”

“Quick then,” said Bonnet; “now you’re my sailing-master; and after this, when we divide the prizes, you take the same share that I do.  As to these goods from the Amanda, I will have no part at all; I give them all to you and the rest, divided according to rule.

“Go you now among the men, and speak first to such as have taken the least liquor; let them know that it was Big Sam that broke in the hogsheads, which, but for that, would have been sold and divided.  Go quickly and get about you a half-dozen good fellows.”

“Ye’re gettin’ wickeder and wickeder,” said Ben when Black Paul had hurried away; “the de’il himsel’ couldna hae taught ye a craftier trick than that.  Weel ye kenned that that black fellow would fain serve under a free-handed fool than a stingy knave.  Ay, sir, your education’s progressin’!”

At this moment Big Sam came hurrying by.  Not wishing to excite suspicion, Bonnet addressed him a question, but instead of answering the burly pirate swore at him.  “I’ll attend to your business,” said he, “as soon as I have my sails set; then I’ll give you two leather-headed landsmen all the hoisting and lowering you’ll ever ask for.”  Then with another explosion of oaths he passed on.

Bonnet and Ben stood waiting with much impatience and anxiety, but presently came Black Paul with a party of brawny pirates following him.