Seafaring men were not scarce in the port of Bridgetown, but Major Bonnet, now entitled to be called "Captain," was very particular about his crew, and it took him a long time to collect suitable men.
As he was most truly a landsman, knowing nothing about the sea or the various intricate methods of navigating a vessel thereupon, he was compelled to secure a real captain--one who would be able to take charge of the vessel and crew, and who would do, and have done, in a thoroughly seamanlike manner, what his nominal skipper should desire and ordain.
This absolutely necessary personage had been secured almost as soon as the vessel had been purchased, before any of the rest of the crew had signed ship's articles; and it was under his general supervision that the storing and equipment had been carried on.

His name was Sam Loftus.
He was a big man with a great readiness of speech.

There were, perhaps, some things he could not do, but there seemed to be nothing that he was not able to talk about.

As has been said, the rest of the crew came in slowly, but they did come, and Major Bonnet told his daughter that when he had secured four more men, it was his intention to leave port.
"And sail for Jamaica ?" she exclaimed.
"Oh, yes," he said, with an affectionate smile, "and I will leave you with your Uncle Delaplaine, where you can stay while I make some little cruises here and there." "And so I am really to go ?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
"Really to go," said he.
"And what may I pack up ?" she asked, thinking of her step-mother.
"Not much," he said, "not much.

We will be able to find at Spanish Town something braver in the way of apparel than anything you now possess.