the risk too great for the advantage they would have
gained. Desperate fellows as they were, the pirates might suddenly
rise, and with handspikes, or any weapons they could get hold of, attack
them.

"We must keep all weapons out of their way, and tell them that we will
shoot them through the head without scruple should they make any attempt
of the sort," answered Roger.

The crew, to whom the idea of making the prisoners work had occurred, at
the same time asked why half a dozen should not be brought on deck and
set to at the pumps? Bates, against his better judgment, consented.
Six were accordingly brought up in order to turn to. They sulkily
obeyed, but the boatswain's mate, who acted as boatswain, stood by with
the cat in hand ready to keep them at their work, while the same number
of men remained on guard, armed with pistols and muskets, ready to shoot
any who should show the slightest sign of mutiny. This kept the first
gang in good order. Then, having laboured till they could labour no
longer, they were exchanged for another party. By this means the crew
were greatly relieved, and leisure was given to them to stop the leaks.
At night all were confined below. At length Morant Point, at the east
end of Jamaica, was sighted, and, the breeze being favourable, the prize
ran along the southern side of the island till she came off the
palisades that formed the southern side of Kingston harbour. They had
to wait till the sea-breeze set in, then with flying sheets ran through
the entrance and brought up off Port Royal. When it was known that the
prize was a pirate captured by Captain Benbow, numbers came off to see
her, and congratulated Roger and Bates on their success. Roger took
care that it should be known what essential service his messmate had
rendered in preserving the vessel, declaring that he believed without
him they would have been retaken. Among the visitors on board were
several merchants and planters, who expressed their thanks to Mr Bates.

"The capture of this vessel will make some amends for the loss of a
shipload of slaves, fellows sent out in consequence of having joined
Monmouth's rebellion," said one of them. "I had a list forwarded to me.
I expected to get a good deal of work out of the fellows before Yellow
Jack carried them off."

"I should like to see it," said Mr Bates. "Perhaps she is the vessel,
the wreck of which we fell in with, nearly all her crew and passengers
having died.