Black Paul smiled disagreeably.  “I will tell you, sir, that you cannot keep these men on board much longer with the town of Belize within a row of half a mile.  They’ve been at sea too long for that.  There’ll be a mutiny, sir, if I go forward with that message of yours.  It will be prudent to let some of them go ashore now and others later in the day.  I will go in the first boat and see to it that the men come back with me.  And, by the way, it would not be a bad thing if I touch at Blackbeard’s vessel and inform him that you are here; I don’t suppose he knows the Revenge, nor her captain neither.”

“I doubt that, Bittern,” said Bonnet, “I doubt it very much.  I assure you that I am known from one end of this coast to the other, and Captain Blackbeard is not an ignorant man.  So you can go ashore and take some of the men, stopping at Blackbeard’s ship.  And, by the way, I want you to go by that bark of ours and give her the old black Roger I used to fly.  I forgot to send it to her, and a man might as well not own and command two vessels if he get not the credit of it.”

When Black Paul had gone to execute his orders, Ben Greenway heaved a heavy sigh.  “Now I begin to fear, Master Bonnet, that the day o’ your salvation has really gone by.  When ye not only murder an’ rob upon the high seas, but keep consort with other murderers an’ robbers, then I fear ye are indeed lost.  But I shall stand by ye, Master Bonnet, I shall stand by ye; an’ if, ever I find there is the least bit o’ ye to be snatched from the flames, I’ll snatch it!”

“I don’t like that sort of talk, Ben Greenway,” cried Bonnet, “especially at this time when my soul swells with content at the success which has crowned my undertakings.  This Blackbeard is a valiant man and a great one, but it is my belief that when we have sat down to compare our notes, it will be found that I have captured as many cargoes, burned as many ships, and marooned as many people in my last cruise as he has.”

“So I suppose,” said Ben, “that ye think ye hae achieved the right to sink deeper into hell than he can ever hope to do?”

Bonnet made no answer, but turned away.  The Scotchman was becoming more and more odious to him every day, but he would not quarrel on this most auspicious morning.  He must keep his mind unruffled and his head high.  He had his own plans about Greenway:  he was not far from Barbadoes, and when he left the harbour of Belize it would be of advantage to his peace of mind as well as to the comfort of a faithful old servant if he should anchor for a little while in the river below the town and put Ben Greenway on shore.

Ben gave no further reason for quarrelling.  He was greatly dejected, but he had sworn to himself to stand by his old master, no matter what might happen, and when he took an oath he meant what he swore.