rson seemed interested in
hearing Nottingham spoken of, and it made him give another glance at
Deane.

"Ah well, my man," he said, "we wish you no harm, but we can allow no
vessel to proceed to the new plantations."

"That's a hard rule, sir," answered Jack, "as we are likely enough to
starve on the island we have just left, and if we remain at sea we shall
perish in the next gale that comes on."

"You have your remedy," said the pirate captain. "You may join our
brave crew. You shall be an officer on board, and your men shall share
with the rest."

"We cannot accept your offer," answered Deane; "and perhaps for old
acquaintance' sake, Master Pearson, you will grant my request?"

The pirate captain started on hearing himself thus addressed.

"Who are you?" he asked, looking again hard at Deane.

"One you knew in his youth, and who has never ceased to wish you well,"
answered Jack. "You have served one sovereign--I have fought under the
flag of another. Do you know me now?"

"Yes, indeed I do; though you are greatly changed from the stripling you
were when I knew you," answered Pearson, stretching out his hand. "I
wish you well, for I thought you a brave and honest youth, and I am
thankful to find you took your own course. Now, as I believe you to be
unchanged, the promise I ask you to make, if I allow you to proceed,
is--that you will not give information of my vessel being off the
coast."

Deane was rather perplexed what answer to make.

"No," he answered at last; "I wish you no harm; at the same time, I
cannot allow any honest trader to fall into your hands. Now hear me,
Master Pearson. My object in coming out here is to carry home two
persons in whom you were once greatly interested: the little Elizabeth
whom you protected in her youth, and your own wife, whom I am sure you
once loved. I throw myself, therefore, on your generosity."

Pearson seemed greatly agitated for some minutes.

"I will not interfere with you," he answered. "I cannot force that poor
lady to undergo the hardships into which I once led her, and I will
therefore leave her to your kindness and charity. I would that I could
accompany you, but I cannot desert my comrades. But the time may come
ere long, that I may enable them to secure their own safety, and I will
then, if I still have the means, endeavour to visit Pennsylvania."

Much on the same subject passed between the two former acquaintances.
The pirates' ship towed