“Now then Roger, we're losing lots of ships, crews, and treasure to those horrid pirates the Beards. We at the Admiralty have chosen you to chase them down and put an end to their reign of terror. For every pirate you bring back to London to stand trial you will receive a reward of one hundred pieces of eight. For every Beard you either bring back or kill you'll get two hundred pieces of eight, you can bring them back to be hung, or you can bring me their heads," Drake concluded.
"Aye aye shipmate. It'll be me pleasure ta rid the six seas of them pesky pirates." (The seventh sea was discovered five years later by a Captain James Kirk) "I be on me way now, for I 'as much ta do before me an' the crew sets sail."
Roger returned to Portsmouth and to his ship, The Wood Pigeon, and summoned the crew.
"All 'ands on deck!" he yelled. "No no lads, stand up straight, I wants to talk to 'e."
"Ah har me 'earties, listen up. That there Admirable Drake, 'e wants us ta capture all them there pirates, the Beards. So 'ere be me plan ta capture young Pink Beard."
The crew all agreed that the captains’ plan was excellent, and work started on Rogers latest invention, the sinking, and re-floating ship. In the bottom of the ship was a plug to let in the water. Just beneath the main deck was installed an airbag, filled with air like a balloon, so that the ship would sink to deck level and then float. In the bottom of the ship was a large empty airbag, a large pair of bellows could be used to fill it with air so the boat would rise back up in the water.
Soon they were ready to sail.
"Ah har shipmates, splice the main brace, anchors away, an' head south to New Found Land (#47)."
Four weeks later The Wood Pigeon was sailing off the coast of west Africa when Pink Beards Ship, ‘The Ever So Nice Little Boat With Pretty Sails’, was sighted off the port bow.
"Thar 'e blows," yelled Jack, the lookout in the crow’s nest.
"Thar 'e blows! Thar 'e blows! That's what 'e yells when 'e sees a Whale," shouted Roger.
"Ar that be true cap'n, but 'e can't sees what I can sees on that there boat," replied Jack. "All them there pirates is stood on the quarterdeck huffin' an' puffin' an' blowin' into the mainsail so the ship goes faster."
"So that's 'ow they catches all them ships," concluded Roger.
Out of sight of Pink Beards ship the crew of The Wood Pigeon prepared to leave by rowing boat. Captain Roger was below decks waiting to pull the plug to submerge the ship, while Julian, looking rather attractive in a daring new outfit that had dark blue flared trousers and a matching scarf with white piping, stood on the quarterdeck nonchalantly looking away from the pirate ship.
Pink Beard manoeuvred into position off the stern (blunt end) of The Wood Pigeon. Then quietly Pink Beard and two dozen of his prettiest crew got into a rowing boat, crossed the water between the two boats, and silently mounted the rear of The Wood Pigeon.
When Roger was sure the pirates were all aboard, he pulled the plug, jumped into the pirates rowing boat, and rowed toward the pirate ship. The rest of the crew joined him, and they easily captured ‘The Ever So Nice Little Boat With Pretty Sails’.
The Pirates, distracted by Julian, didn't notice a thing until the decks of The Wood Pigeon were almost awash.
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