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