to the bottom, and made their crews walk the plank, or
carried them off to the then little-known islands of the Bahama group.
On the merchants making application to Captain Benbow, he willingly
undertook to go in search of the pirate fleet, and forthwith got his
ship ready for sea. He also purchased a couple of large boats, partly
decked over and suited for those seas, fitted with sails and long oars,
so that they could move rapidly both in a calm and in a breeze. He
would willingly also have obtained a tender, but he could find no vessel
suited for the purpose in the harbour. All preparations being made, the
_Ruby_ sailed at daylight with a land breeze, and soon had run the white
forts and batteries surrounding Kingston out of sight, though the Blue
Mountains, rising high above them, were visible long afterwards.

"I am thankful that we are clear out of the place," observed Roger to
his friend Simon Bates, with whom he seemed to have a great deal to talk
about when no one else was near. "I was never quite at my ease, fearing
that some of the inquisitive authorities might have come on board."

"I have been so wonderfully preserved that I entertained no fears on the
subject," answered Bates. "My great wish now is to fall in with these
pirates and to take an active part in their capture."

"We will keep a bright look-out for them at all events," said Roger;
"and if we can lay any of them aboard, I am sure you will do your part,
and the Captain has every wish to give you an opportunity of
distinguishing yourself."

The _Ruby_ had, however, been a week at sea without the pirates being
seen. Roger and Bates were always on the look-out. They were afraid
that they might have got an inkling of the _Ruby's_ whereabouts, and
were keeping out of her way. She at last stood round the northern side
of Jamaica, and the next day fell in with an English merchantman, the
master of which reported that he had been chased by several strange
sail; but, his vessel being a fast one, by setting all the canvas he
could carry, he had made his escape. He reported that they were far
from small craft; two or three were good-sized frigates, and the rest
were of a considerable burden.

"So much the better," said Captain Benbow. "It will induce them to
attack us; we must do our best to send them to the bottom one after the
other."

The merchantman having proceeded on her course to the west, the _Ruby_
continued standing on to the westw