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When you hear the last stroke of nine, you must let go and drop. I shall be there." "But if you shouldn't be there, Dickory? Couldn't you whistle, couldn't you call gently?" "No," said Dickory; "if I did that, their sharp ears would hear and lanterns would be flashed on us, and perhaps things would be cast down upon us. That would be the quickest way of getting rid of you."

Thus it was that the pirate found out a great deal more about Dickory's life, hope, and sorrows than the young fellow imagined that he made known. He discovered that Dickory was greatly interested in Bonnet's daughter, and wished above all other things in this world to get to her and to be with her.

Moreover, not only did the good merchant harbour such a wicked thought, but Dame Charter thought something of the very same kind, though differently expressed. If he had never been born, she would say to herself, how much better it would have been; but then the thought would come crowding in, how bad that would have been for Dickory and for the plans she was making for him.

The latter, his countenance blacker than it had ever been before, first scowled at him, but in a moment the ferocity left his glance. "Oho!" he said, "here's a pretty pickle for me and you, as well as for Bonnet and the Scotchman!" "Do you suppose," exclaimed Dickory, "that what he says is true? That he has stolen this ship from Captain Bonnet, and that he has taken it for his own?"

But young Dickory Charter, with the blood-stained letter of Captain Vince tucked away in the lining of his coat, ate so little, tossed about so much in his berth, turned so pale and spoke so seldom, that the bold Captain Blackbeard declared that he should have some medicine.

All that day Dickory Charter was worth nothing to anybody. Blackbeard swore at him and pushed him aside. The young fellow could not even count the doubloons in a bag.

Presently, as she sat, one arm leaning on the rail, she heard a voice close to her ear, and she gave a great start. "It is only Dickory," whispered the voice. Then she put her head near him and was glad enough to have put her arms around his neck. "I have heard a great deal more," whispered Dickory; "these men are dreadful.

It was the clamorous longing of her heart to go after her father and to find him wherever he might be, and she did not care to consider anything else. Dame Charter added also her supplications. Her boy was with Blackbeard, and she wished to follow the pirate's ship. Even if she should never see Major Bonnet whom she loathed and despised, though never saying so she would find her Dickory.

"And where is it going to?" asked Dickory. "That I don't know exactly. Sometimes I think that it is going to the island of Barbadoes, where we originally intended to settle; but then I imagine that there is some pleasanter place than Barbadoes, and if that's the case the ship is going there." "There can be no pleasanter place than Barbadoes," cried Dickory.

They talked of their travels, their misfortunes and their blessings, and Dickory yearned to pour out his soul to them, but he could not do so. His woes did not belong to himself alone; they were not for the ears of strangers. He made up his mind what he would do. Until the morrow he would stay as a visitor with these most hospitable people, then he would ask for work.