"Tons."

John said "How ripping," but decided to have tea first. He
asked if there were many pirates on the island just now, and
Peter said he had never known so many.

"Who is captain now?"

"Hook," answered Peter, and his face became very stern as he
said that hated word.

"Jas. Hook?"

"Ay."

Then indeed Michael began to cry, and even John could speak in
gulps only, for they knew Hook's reputation.

"He was Blackbeard's bo'sun," John whispered huskily. "He is
the worst of them all. He is the only man of whom Barbecue was
afraid."