"

The merchants promised to bring it off, and in the list Mr Bates read
the name of Stephen Battiscombe. He returned it, remarking, "I have
little doubt that your slaves have all long since gained their liberty
by the only means they expected--death. We will do our best to capture
the remainder of the pirates to make amends to you for your loss."

Roger was glad to get rid of his prisoners, who were handed over to the
authorities; he also obtained hands from Port Royal to refit the prize
with all despatch, knowing that Captain Benbow would certainly employ
her as the tender to the _Ruby_, to assist him in his search for the
piratical squadron, should he have failed to catch them. Several days
passed, and, the _Ruby_ not appearing, Roger began to fear that some
accident might have happened to her. At length, to his great
satisfaction, the canvas of a large ship was seen over the palisades,
and the _Ruby_ made her signal. The sea-breeze soon afterwards setting
in, she entered the harbour, and brought up near the prize. Roger
immediately went on board. Captain Benbow had waited, he said, in vain
for the pirates; they had run in among the Bahama Islands, and hid
themselves away, while it was impossible to follow them without
experienced pilots, who were not to be found.

"We must wait therefore another opportunity of discovering them," he
observed. "In the meantime we will refit the prize, to the command of
which I intend to appoint you, Willoughby, with Bates as your
lieutenant. I will send Charlie Ross to assist you, with several fresh
hands."

Several weeks passed, for the dockyard people in those days were not
very rapid in their movements.

At length a merchant vessel came in, stating that she had been chased
off Montego Bay, at the north-west end of the island, by several
suspicious-looking craft, but that she had got into that harbour, and
remained there till the pirates had disappeared.

"Then the rascals are once more afloat," said Captain Benbow, when he
heard of this. "We must go in search of them with the aid of your
frigate. I hope we shall capture a few more, if not the whole of them."

No time was lost in getting under way, Captain Benbow's only regret
being that he had not a larger number of small craft to ferret the
pirates out of their holes. He had, however, the two boats, which were
likely to be of use. The prize had been so transmogrified by the
dockyard riggers at Port Royal that