It did not take very long for a man of practical devilishness, such as Blackbeard was, to finish the business which had called him away, and he soon reappeared in the cabin.

“Ho there! good Sir Nightcap—­an I may freely call you that since now I own you, uniform, cocked hat, title, and everything else—­don’t cry yourself to sleep like a baby when its toys are taken away from it, but wake up.  I have a bit of liking for you, and I believe that that is because you are clean.  Not having that virtue myself, I admire it the more in others, and I thank you from my inmost soul—­wherever that may be—­for having provided such comely quarters and such fair accommodations for me while I shall please to sail the Revenge.  But I shall not condemn you to idleness and cankering thoughts, my bold blusterer, my terror of the sea, my harrier of the coast, my flaunter of the Jolly Roger washed clean in the tub with soap; I shall give you work to do which shall better suit you than the troublesome trade you’ve been trying to learn.  You write well and read, I know that, my good Sir Nightcap; and, moreover, you are a fair hand at figures.  I have great work before me in landing and selling the fine cargoes you have brought me, and in counting and dividing the treasure you have locked in your iron-bound chests.  And you shall attend to all that, my reformed cutthroat, my regenerated sea-robber.  You shall have a room of your own, where you can take off that brave uniform and where you can do your work and keep your accounts and so shall be happier than you ever were before, feeling that you are in your right place.”

To all this Stede Bonnet did not answer a word; he did not even raise his head.

“And now for you, my chaplain,” said Blackbeard, suddenly turning toward Ben Greenway, “what would you like?  Would it suit you better to go overboard or to conduct prayers for my pious crew?”

“I would stay wi’ my master,” said the Scotchman quietly.

The pirate looked steadily at Greenway.  “Oho!” said he, “you are a sturdy fellow, and have a mind to speak from.  Being so stiff yourself, you may be able to stiffen a little this rag of a master of yours and help him to understand the work he has to do, which he will bravely do, I ween, when he finds that to be my clerk is his career.  Ha! ha!  Sir Nightcap, the pirate of the pen and ink!”

Deeply sunk these words into Stede Bonnet’s heart, but he made no sign.

When Blackbeard went back to the Revenge he took with him all of his own effects which he cared for, and he also took the ex-pirate’s uniform, cocked hat, and sword.  “I may have use for them,” he said, “and my clerk can wear common clothes like common people.”

When her new commander reached the Revenge, Dickory immediately approached him and earnestly besought him that he might be sent to join Captain Bonnet and Ben Greenway.  “They are my friends,” said Dickory, “and I have none here, and I have brought a message to Captain Bonnet from his daughter, and it is urgently necessary that I return with one from him to her.  I must instantly endeavour to find a ship which is bound for Jamaica and sail upon her.  I have nothing to do with this ship, having come on board of her simply to carry my message, and it behooves me that I return quickly to those who sent me, else injury may come of it.”