They are mad to be on shore." Blackbeard made no answer; he stepped to the side of the vessel and looked over.

"Let go!" he shouted to the man who held the boat's rope, "and you rascals row out a dozen strokes from my vessel and keep your boat there; and if you move an oar towards the town I will sink you!" With that he ordered two small guns to be trained upon the boat.
The boat's crew did not hesitate one second in obeying these orders.
They knew by whom they were given, and there was no man in the great body of free companions who would disobey an order given by Blackbeard.
They rowed to the position assigned them and sat quietly looking into the mouths of the two cannon which were pointed towards them.
"Now then," said Blackbeard, turning to Bittern, "I think they'll stay there till they get some other order." Between frequent sips at the cup of brandy Bittern told the story of the Revenge, and Blackbeard listened with many an oath and many a pound upon his massive knee by his mighty fist.
"Oh, I have heard of him," he cried, "I have heard of him! He has played the devil along the Atlantic coast.

He must he a great fellow this--what did you say his name was ?" "Bonnet," said the other.
Blackbeard laughed.

"That suits him well; he must have clapped his name over the eyes of many a merchant captain! Where did he sail before he hoisted the Jolly Roger ?" At this Bittern laughed.

"He never sailed anywhere, he is no seaman; and if he were not rich enough to pay others to do his navigatin' for him he would have run his vessel upon the first sand-bar on his way from Bridgetown to the sea.