of her company he determined to remain on shore. He
knew better how to make money than to keep it; and so did I for that
matter, and in a short time the greater part of it was gone. However,
he promised his wife not to go to sea, or we should soon have
replenished our coffers. He set up, therefore, as a farmer and drover,
though he did other turns of business as occasion offered. He
understood as much about horses as he did about ships; and, as he had
been accustomed to levy taxes on all merchantmen he met, with very
little regard for the flag they carried, he now took to levying
black-mail on shore. I, of course, joined him. What else could I do?
Pearson also hoped to make friends at court; and as he fully believed
that King James would come back to rule over the land, he heartily
entered into the Jacobite plot, which has so signally failed."

"Then was it he who stopped our cattle as we were bound for Stourbridge
Fair?" exclaimed Jack, suddenly.

"There's no doubt about it!" answered Burdale. "He made old Will pay
pretty dear for his protection."

"Then were you the horseman I met, who advised me to offer payment?"

"Ay, my lad, that I was," was the answer. "I wonder you did not know me
again when I came to you as a guide to conduct you to Pearson's farm in
the fens."

"I thought it was you, and I was right."

"Yes; but I had good reason for not telling you so," said Burdale.

"Then who is Master Pearson?" asked Jack.

"Did you ever hear of the famous northern cateran, Ben Nevis?" asked
Burdale.

"Indeed have I!" answered Jack.

"Ay, and you know him well," said Burdale; "your friend and he are the
same. I would not tell you this, even though it would not matter to me,
but I feel sure that you and he are not likely to meet again. In the
fens he is known as Master Pearson, but he has gone by a dozen different
names at various times, and taken up almost as many different
characters. Both sea and land are much the same to him, though I think
the sea was most to his taste. If it had not have been for his wife, he
would have stuck to that probably. Next to Captain Kyd, I don't suppose
there has been a more successful man out on the Spanish Main than he
was; and I should not be surprised but what he will take to the same
calling again, if England once becomes too hot for him. I think
differently now that I see death coming on to gripe hold of me, to what
I did when I was in health and strength, an