Well, yet another busy, busy week full to overflowing of activities. I just can't seem to get used to it. I'm loving the summer weather though! Today was kind of iffy, because half the day it rained and the other half was sunny, but windy. (The wind was probably causing the constant weather changes...) I hope that tomorrow will be nicer, and of course the day after that, and the day after that, etc. :)
Alright, another chapter for you all to enjoy. It starts getting more exciting...trust me on that one! :P
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| Sorry the picture isn't very good, but I thought it went well with the story. :) |
Emily was sent almost
immediately to the kitchen to help the ship’s cook, and so Luke and John were
put on cleaning the captain’s cabin. It didn’t take long with both of them
working on it, and the captain was very pleased.
“You two boys will be a good
help I think, after all. I have no further need of you for the moment, but you
have my permission to explore our ship. If any of my crew asks what you are
about, send them to me.” He said after inspecting their work. Luke and John
stammered a quick thank you to the captain and rushed out onto the deck again.
The crew members didn’t try to
stop them and only looked on in silent amusement as the two boys rushed from
place to place looking into every nook and cranny excitedly.
Luke decided to take a look
out the spyglass from the crow’s-nest, and obtained permission quickly. The old
sailor in charge smiled at them and offered his own, more powerful telescope
for their use. Eagerly, Luke scanned the horizon in search for land, but
instead he spied a ship. Frowning, he handed the glass to John.
“What do you make of that?” he
asked. John squinted as the ship came closer.
“It looks like it may be a
pirate ship!” he finally exclaimed in a hushed whisper. Luke licked his lips
worriedly, and took the telescope from John, studying the ship until he saw the
flag more clearly. Once he was sure, he sucked in air through his teeth, and
then called down to the captain who was watching him from below.
“Cap’n!” he shouted, his
excitement mounting. “I’ve sighted the Jolly Rodger off the port side! She’s
coming in fast with a good wind behind her, heading in our direction.” The
captain and crew immediately got to work, and Luke and John slid down the ropes
to see how they could help. The old sailor shook Luke’s hand.
“Ye’ve got better eyes than I
have lad, thankee kindly for spotting the ship and warnin’ us well.” He grinned
and slapped Luke on the back, almost sending him sprawling onto the rolling
deck. “We’ll make a sailor o’ ye yet!”
Luke was grateful to the old
man, but right now he was worried about the ship. And where was Emily? He and
John went as speedily as possible on the pitching ship to find her. She was
working on baking something when they came into the ship’s kitchen, but she
stopped long enough to wipe her hair from her face, leaving a streak of flour
behind, and ask what was happening.
“I think we’re getting
attacked by pirates!” John burst in before Luke could manage to say anything. A
look of alarm passed over Emily’s face.
“Pirates!” she exclaimed. “Are
you sure?”
Luke nodded, but, knowing his
sister would worry too much, patted her on her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t
worry, I’m sure the captain and his crew will have everything under control.”
Emily’s frown faded some, but she still bit her lip and glanced toward the
door. Finally, she washed her hands and removed her apron.
Suddenly, taking them all by
surprise, a cannon boomed, and a great splash near the ship warned them that
the pirates were upon them. Luke, John, and Emily rushed from the kitchen,
nearly running down the captain. He frowned darkly at them.
“You need to return to my
cabin and stay there until the fight is over. This is no place for women and
children.”
“But we want to help!” Luke
pleaded, his voice rising above the crash of waves and the cannon fire.
Emily pulled him away, earning
herself a grateful look from over the captain's shoulder as he rushed off to
help his men fight. “The captain knows best, Luke. He’s in charge and we need
to follow his advice. Come, we will find the captain’s precious documents and
hide them where the pirates will not find them if they win.”
“But…” Luke pleaded. Emily
held her ground.
“You are not going to take
place in the fighting, that’s final.” She replied sternly. Luke sighed, but
when Emily put her foot down about something, he knew it was useless to argue.
Mutely, he followed her back to the captain’s cabin.
While the war raged on all
sides of them, Emily calmly searched the cabin for anything that might prove of
value. She hid the maps, charts, and a small packet of letters that had the
queen’s seal on them in her shawl, and Luke poured a small bag of gold coins
into his boot. John took the captain’s small pistol and a pocket knife, hiding
them in his boot.
Quietly, they listened as
trampling feet overhead grew louder and louder. Orders were shouted, and all of
a sudden, almost as quickly as it had begun, the fight ended. In dread, the
three siblings waited fearfully for the captain to come in smiling, saying the
fight was over and they had won.
Instead, when the door finally
opened, the worst of their fears were realized.
See what I mean?
What do you think happens next?
How are you enjoying the story?
Have you figured out who the character's are based off of?
