James stares. First mate? Surely, the pirate cannot be serious. No... he may not be a prisoner aboard the Pearl, but he's a Navy man, he's been attempting to capture and hang Sparrow for months- all in all, he is not a man to be trusted. And he knows Sparrow does not trust him- the blindfolds on his way to the Pearl, the locked door, the seduction; Sparrow treats him cordially enough, teases him, plays games with him, but he does not trust him.

And James does not trust Sparrow. Such an offer would not be prompted by the mere wish to cater to "a man of his position," as Sparrow put it. No, there would have to be a reason behind it, some ulterior motive, a trap. He narrows his eyes.

'First mate?' He repeats incredulously, 'Surely, Sparrow, you're not fool enough to offer the second-highest rank aboard this ship to a Navy man. What are you after?'