without them the vessel must have gone down," said the mate. "From what
I saw of them, I should say they have the making of good seamen in them
when they regain their health and strength."

"That is all right," said Roger. "I will speak to the men, and advise
them to choose names under which they can enter."

He found them, however, scarcely sufficiently recovered to understand
him, much less to say anything, so that there was no hurry. He left
them under the care of the doctor and his assistants. The crew of the
_Ruby_ were chiefly west-country folk, and even had it been known on
board that the rescued people were slaves condemned for joining
Monmouth's rebellion, they would have gained the sympathy of those on
board, with the exception, perhaps, of the gentlemen lieutenants and a
few others. Nearly a week passed before the mate was able to leave his
hammock. The Captain, on seeing him, beckoned him to approach.

"I understand," he said, "that you have served long at sea, and I shall
be glad, as I doubt not you will prove yourself worthy of it, to place
you on the quarter-deck. Your men, I understand, have entered as of the
people you were carrying out as passengers. We shall, I hope, have
opportunities in which you can distinguish yourself and make your name
well known."

"Thank you, sir, I am grateful to you," said Simon Bates, of whose
identity there could be no doubt, now that he had so much recovered, and
was dressed in a becoming costume, obtained for him by Roger. "I will
do my best, as you suggest, sir, to make the name of Simon Bates well
known."

A couple of weeks after this the _Ruby_ entered Port Royal, in Jamaica.
As she was not to remain long, none of the crew were allowed to go on
shore. A certain portion seemed to have no wish to do so; although
Simon Bates might have walked the streets of Kingston with impunity,
there was a risk that he might be recognised by some traitor and
denounced. He therefore thought it prudent to remain on board.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

At the time the _Ruby_ reached Port Royal harbour the merchants at
Kingston were constantly receiving accounts of depredations committed on
their vessels by a piratical squadron under the command of a Frenchman.
They could obtain no exact information as to the size or number of the
pirate ships; they were generally supposed to be small craft. They
allowed none of those they captured to escape, and either sent the
merchantmen