The man who owned the rope told him that Major Bonnet had gone off in his vessel, which had sailed out of the harbour in the night, showing no light.

And, although many people had talked of this strange proceeding, nobody knew whether he had gone of his own free will or against it.
"Of course it was against his will," cried Dickory.

"The ship was stolen, and they have stolen him with it.

The wretches! The beasts!" And then he went up into the town.
Some men were talking at the door of a baker's shop, and the baker himself, a stout young man, came out.
"Oh, yes," said he, "we know now what it means.

The good Major Bonnet has gone off pirating; he thinks he can make more money that way than by attending to his plantation.