so Roger summoned the crew to give them their instructions.
"All hands on deck!" He called out. "Nay nay lads, I told 'e 'afore, stand up straight when I wants ta talk to 'e."
The crew stood up.
"Now then me hearties, we must set sail today ta seek out Red Beard. 'E be a mean an' blood thirsty cutthroat pirate, so's we all got ta do our jobs well. The six seas is gonna be a safer place after we capture ol' Red Beard, so sets the mainsail, up anchor an' on our way."
The Wood Pigeon sailed out of the harbour with The Mass o' Hearties on a tow rope some thirty yards behind. For days they sailed southward past France and Spain, then continued south down the north-west coast of Africa. When they sighted other ships they would call out, seeking clues to the where abouts of Red Beard. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months with not a sign of Red Beard. Then one day they sighted an English trader adrift and with a broken mast, on deck a small fire was burning, sending a column of smoke into the air.
"Ahoy there!" The lookout called from the crow’s nest, but there was no reply.
"Ooh captain, it's 'The Saucy Chicken', she was sailing back to Portsmouth with a cargo of exotic carvings from The Ivory Coast." Julian informed Roger.
"Aye lad, I knows the cap'n of The Saucy Chicken. Cap'n Burt Sigh be a good friend o' mine. Pull us alongside lad, let's see if there be anything we can do to help The Saucy Chicken."
The Wood Pigeon drew alongside The Saucy Chicken, what had happened was plain for all to see.
"The decks be awash wi' blood an' there be bodies everywhere.
Ah har me hearties, looks like Red Beard 'as been 'ere in the last hour or two." Roger had never sounded so sad.
"SAIL AHOY!" the call came from the crow’s nest.
"Where away?" Roger called back.
"Dead astern of The Mass o' Hearties cap'n, an' coming at full speed."
"Ah har, it must be Red Beard. Down all sails, all hands below deck an’ into the air bag."
Quickly the crew prepared the ship to submerge; all was ready to spring the trap.
"Dive, dive, dive." Roger yelled as he turned his hat backwards so he could look through the hollow mast.
The donkeys were trotting as Roger manoeuvred The Wood Pigeon into position.
"Ah har lads, it be Red Beard all right. Ha, ha, ha, 'e got his cutlass between his teeth. Ho, ho, ho, 'e be alongside The Mass o' Hearties. He, he, he, 'e be boarding her."
"Ooh captain, can I have look?" Julian interrupted.
"Ha, ha, ha, aye lad, ho, ho, ho, I can't see for laughing, he, he, he, so 'e might as well take a look."
"Ooh, it looks like all the pirates are climbing over the side of the ship. Now they're on the deck. It worked, it worked!" Julian cried out as he gave Roger a big kiss.
"Hurrah!" the crew responded.
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