"Ah har," the man with the wooden leg spoke as Roger entered, "It be Jolly Roger."
"Aye, it be 'im all right," the man with the eye patch added.
"Jolly Roger," the man with the hook hand joined in, "do come an' join us, do 'e arm wrestle?"
"Ah har, that I do," Roger replied. "But first I seeks news of Grey Beard, do 'e 'ave any news?"
"Aye, we do, Grey Beard captured our ship not two days ago, we was lucky to escape with our lives," the man with the wooden leg answered.
"Aye, sail east for two days," the man with the eye patch continued.
"An' Grey Beard will find 'e," concluded the man with the hook hand.
"An' do 'e 'ave Elsie wi' 'im?" Roger asked.
"Aye that 'e do," the man with the wooden leg responded.
"She be the most beautiful woman I ever laid my eye on," the man with the eye patch continued softly.
"Ar, beautiful, wish I could lay my 'and on one such as 'er," the man with the hook hand concluded.
"Ah har, now lads, lets arm wrestle," Roger said as he sat at the table.
The man with the wooden leg sat opposite Roger, the two put their elbows on the table and grasped each other's hand.
"Ah har, ready, steady, go!" The man with the eye patch called.
Tension built as the two competitors tested each other. For five minutes the advantage switched from one man to the other, then the man with the wooden leg started to turn purple. Suddenly Roger had the upper hand, and he forced his opponent to the table.
"Ah har, 'e beat me fair an' square, well done Jolly Roger, 'ere, you wins my wooden leg."
Next the man with the eye patch sat opposite Roger. Once more the competition was intense, until after nearly ten minutes the man with the eye patch turned purple, Roger had the upper hand, and soon forced his opponent to the table.
"Ah har, 'e beat me fair an' square, well done Jolly Roger, 'ere, you wins my eye patch."
The man with the hook hand sat at the table. For fifteen minutes he resisted Roger’s efforts until suddenly he turned purple, and Roger knew he had him beat.
"Ah har, 'e beat me fair an' square, well done Jolly Roger, 'ere, you wins my 'ook 'and."
"What will 'e do wi' a wooden leg, eye patch an' a 'ook 'and?" The man who had previously been the proud owner of a wooden leg asked.
"Ah har," Roger replied, "I 'as a cousin who lives in a castle in eastern Europe. 'E be a scientist an' is trying to build a man out of body parts what 'e collects after battles. 'E only needs a leg, an eye, an' a 'and ta finish 'is latest attempt ta create life, ah har, but that be another story. I'll send these bits to cousin Frankie for Christmas; they're bound ta be useful to 'im. I thank 'e for the information 'bout Grey Beard, I bid 'e fare well,” Roger said as he got up to leave.
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