Jim Morgan and the Pirates of the Black Skull by James Raney

Author:James Raney [Raney, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamfarer Press
Published: 2013-11-28T17:00:00+00:00

TWENTY–TWO

im turned to climb the steps back to the quarterdeck. From there he would have the best vantage of the Cromiers’ boat as they tried to slip past the Spectre. The battle raged about the main deck below. Cannon and pistol smoke hovered like a fog and there seemed to be no end to the Corsairs pouring through the smoky mist. Splitbeard’s wild pirates shrieked and howled. Pistols cracked and swords clashed. In the center of them all Dread Steele held his ground. He fought four or five Corsairs at once, beating them soundly, until they fell back from him in terror. A squirming twist tied itself in Jim’s stomach as watched the brave crew battle so desperately.

“I’m just helping,” he told himself. He gritted his teeth and shook his head fiercely to rid himself of the lump in his gut. “Dread Steele and his men can take care of the Corsairs. I’ll handle the Cromiers.”

Jim slowly climbed the steps, determined to at last finish what he started in the enchanted fog on the beach near his burnt home. But just as Jim was about to reach the quarterdeck, a hand seized him by the shoulder and yanked him back. Jim whirled and raised his hands to fight off whoever it was attempting to stop him. But that someone turned out to be Lacey, and she seemed furious enough with Jim to wage a war of her very own against an army of Corsairs. Cornelius sat upon her shoulder and the Ratts stood behind her, their wide eyes fixed on the mad fight about them.

“Jim Morgan, just what do you think you’re doing?” Lacey all but screamed. “I don’t know if you noticed, but there’s a war going on out here and you’re going to get yourself, and all of us, killed! You were supposed to hide in the captain’s quarters!”

“I agree, I agree!” Cornelius squawked. “It is madness for you to be out here! Do you not remember the Captain’s orders? We must fly to the cabin immediately!”

“There’s no time to explain. There’s something I have to do!” Jim wrenched himself free from Lacey’s grasp and charged back to the quarterdeck, where he could see more clearly over the clouds of white smoke.

“No time for what?” Lacey cried. Jim could hear her and the Ratts running up behind him.

“Get below, all of you!” Jim shouted over his shoulder. He was already scanning the waters below for any sign of the Cromiers. “Get to where it’s safe. The Cromiers and Splitbeard are going to sneak through the Devil’s Horns before the sun sets and I have to stop them!”

“The Captain! The Captain!” Cornelius cawed. He flapped his wings furiously and flew up to perch on Jim’s shoulder. “We must tell the Captain!”

“Listen to him, Jim,” Lacey cried. She reached up once more and pulled hard on Jim’s sleeve to slow him down. “Tell Captain Steele. He’ll know what to do!”

“He’s in the middle of a battle, Lacey, in case you hadn’t noticed.

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