"And if you like sea-pie, cappen, I cook one such as nobody can beat, let me tell you dat," I say. "I head cook."' "`You're an impudent rascal, whoever you are,' he reply, `but perhaps, for once in a way, you speak the truth.' "`Do, cappen, just try me to-morrow, or next day, or when you get de materials to put in de pie,' I say. "`I'll think about that, my man,' he answer, licking him lips. And den I know I all safe. `He not kill me if he tink I make good sea-pie,' I say to myself; `for black fellow sometimes more cunning dan white buccra--he! he! he!' Peter chuckled. `Where do you come from?' he ask. "`I tell him I carried off and made to serve on board de French ship, and dat I glad to escape from her. Dis not quite true, but I guess it make him more ready to save my life.' "`Well,' he say, `I happen to want a steward, and if you prove to be what you say you are, and can cook as well as you boast that you can, I'll take you into my service; but if not, it will be the worse for you.' "`He den ask sharply, "What do you take this ship for, boy?"' "`Of course, sar, English man-o'-war,' I answer--though I know berry well dat not true. "`You haven't quite hit it, but you'll be much better off than if she was,' he say, tinking me simple lad who no do any mischief. He den shout out to de crew on deck, and tell dem not to harm me. Just den, as I look ober de side, I catch a glimpse of de brig which we were leaving settling down, and in anoder minute de water close ober de mast-heads. Den I tink I act berry wise in getting on board de pirate. De cappen den send me down into de cabin to look after de tings dere and put it in order, saying dat his oder steward been killed in an action a few days before. We were now, I found, steering to de nor'-west. Two or tree days after dis we take anoder prize, which was robbed ob eberyting ob value on board, and was den treated same as _Les deux Amis_ had been. I was very glad to get off wid my life, but I berry much wish myself out of de ship again, and determined to make my 'scape as soon as I hab opportunity. "`De cappen each day ask me when I going to make de sea-pie. I always say, "When I get de fowls, and de turkeys, and de ham, and de oder tings to put in it. But I make you some lobscouse in de mean time," I say. And so I did; and he and de mates say dey nebber taste such good lobscouse in dere lives. "Ah! not equal to de sea-pie I make some day or oder," I answer; for I know as long as I promise de sea-pie dey not kill me. I only hope in de mean time no man-o'-war get hold ob us; if she did, I should be hung up wid de rest, and de judges not believe I come on board 'cause oderwise I drown, and stay only to make a sea-pie. We soon get near an island, which I guess was one ob de Bahamas from de way de ship was steered, now in one direction, now in anoder, between rocks and sandbanks. De cappen ask me if I know where we were. I say, "I suppose we somewhere on de Spanish Main."'