1 A page from THE History and Lives Of the most Bloodthirsty PIRATES who ever infested THE SOUTHERN SEAS 2 Being an account of BUCCANEERS & the SPANISH MAIN, the Jolly Roger, GOLDEN GALLEONS, bleached skulls, BURIED TREASURE, the Plank, dirks & cutlasses, SCUTTLED SHIPS, Marooning, DESPERATE DEEDS, DESPERATE MEN, and - even on this dark soil - ROMANCE. 3 It was the custom of THESE PIRATES to SUBDUE their prey, LOOT the ship, BIND their captives and BLOW THEM UP. 4 The PIRATE LEADER -5 The Powder Magazine - 6 Laying the POWDER TRAIN - 7 The PIRATE SHIP - 8 Sole SURVIVORS 9 Dividing THE LOOT - 10 "Avast, my bullies. We'll draw lots - - and the short strand wins." 11 The PIRATE LEADERS make ready to take the richest part of the treasure to a Secret Hiding Place. 12 MAROONED 13 Buried TREASURE 14 "Dead men tell no tales." 15 "I would join your Company." 16 "Wud ye, now? An' what are your qualeefeecations?" 17 "Who is your best fighter?" 18 "He's as braw a lad as ever sought to join our Company." 19 "There's more to our trade than sword tricks." 20 "The next ship you pick for prey -" 21 "I'll wager I can take it single-handed." 22 Just after dawn - a MERCHANTMAN - 23 Single-handed - 24 "Have done with this folly. Let them have the guns." 25 "Give him his chance. If he fails - there's time enough." 26 "Where's the rest of the watch?" 27 "There is more to our trade than sword tricks!" 28 The Merchantman captured, the Pirates pursue their CUSTOMARY TACTICS - 29 "Ahoy, you sea wolves! There's something I would say to you." 30 "Come down, all of you. I'll show you a new trick in your own game." 31 "Gather round me, ye who love gold." 32 "Here's a ship captured without firing a gun - sound as the day it was built - not a spar broken." 33 "Why destroy it and lose the richest part of our adventure? Let's hold it for ransom." 34 "Let the ransom be fifty thousand pieces-of-eight. We'll send our ship for it and set a time for its return." 35 "There's sense in what he tells us -" 36 "Draw lots for her - and the short strand wins." 37 "Fifty pound a head, you labbernecks." 38 "How do we know they'll give this ransom?" 39 "Here's our surety - a Princess -" 40 "This emblem marks her - a Princess of royal blood. We'll hold her as hostage." 41 "She is mine. I won her by lot." 42 "Shall we sacrifice the good of all for the benefit of one?" 43 "Riches for all! We vote with you, my bullyboy." 44 "He bests our Captain in fair fight. He takes this ship single-handed. He stands to win us more gold than we've ever seen. I propose we make him leader." 45 "If the ransom ship returns, 'tis time enough to make him leader." 46 "Yo, ho! A leader new - of bully brew - when the ransom ship returns." 47 "Get aboard that ransom ship. When night lowers, blow her to Hell!" 48 "We give ye from noonday till noonday - - by the ship's dial." 49 "I'll be watching in the rigging - tonight." 50 There is NO honor among thieves. 51 "The winds are favoring. They will have many hours to spare. I look to see them back before this dial shows noon." 52 "Lady, I grieve profoundly this mishappening." 53 "This was for the good of the company. We must not forget the letter of our bond." 54 "I owe you thanks for saving her - for me." 55 "That is, of course, if the ransom ship does not return." 56 EARLY EVENING - the reek of roasting food - rich viands for PIRATE PALATES - 57 "Have you ever known about - or heard about - or read about - a man falling in love at first sight?" 58 "Who is this Black Pirate?" 59 "A sound enough lad, but he seems to be suffering from an afleection of the heart." 60 When NIGHT lowers - on the ransom ship - 61 "You risk your life for me." 62 "I would do more - I would give it." 63 "Who are you?" 64 "A pirate who has found his treasure - and lets it go." 65 "Quick! Open that door." 66 "Now hold me at pistol point." 67 In the dead vast and middle of the night - A TRIAL FOR LIFE - 68 "This base and scurvy traitor - - guilty of foulest treason -" 69 "Our own eyes saw him -" 70 "The case is plain and needs no further speaking." 71 "I vote he lives." 72 "He dies." 73 "He'll walk the plank." 74 "Never let that villain from your sight till tomorrow noon strike the dial." 75 "I know a few tricks of the trade myself. At the bottom of the sea you'll find the ransom ship." 76 "Be comforted, lass. He lives." 77 "The agreement reads 'Spotless and unharmed till noon tomorrow' - break that and YE walk the plank." 78 The noonday of the TOMORROW - 79 "You know your orders. Follow them. We'll show them a trick they never heard of." 80 "Heave up your anchor and set sail. Other boats may follow." 81 "The Governor." 82 "His Excellency, the Governor." 83 "You have rid our seas of these villainous cutthroats. We are much in your debt, my Lord Duke." 84 "Lord Duke?" 85 "Princess!" 86 "Your Highness, we give thanks for your deliverance." 87 "Present me." 88 "What - you do not know each other!" 89 "Your Highness - His Grace, the Duke of Arnoldo." 90 "Lady - - forgive this suddenness - I have just been made known to you - but -" 91 "In the presence of all these - and I would it were the whole world - I ask your hand in marriage." 92 "The treasure in the Secret Hiding Place - a wedding gift." THE END Home