Pirate Mutiny (Time Hunters, Book 5) by Chris Blake

Author:Chris Blake [Chris Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2013-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

As the sun rose over calm seas, Tom and Isis were helping Sal in the cramped galley. Sal was pouring grog into tankards.

“Show a leg, me heartie!” he said, ordering Tom to hurry up. “You don’t want to cross a pirate with an empty stomach!”

Tom delved into the barrel of hard tack and pulled out enough weevil-infested biscuits for forty men.

“Go on! Ask Sal!” Isis hissed.

“Ask me what?” Sal said.

“Well, we were wondering if you know what St Elmo’s Fire is,” Tom said, piling the biscuits on to the tray that Isis was holding.

Sal started to slice up limes. “You two landlubbers don’t know anything, do you?” he said, chuckling. “Well, I’m sure you’ve gathered that we pirates are a superstitious bunch?”

Tom and Isis nodded.

“We sailors believe that the purple and blue glow you get round the masts of a ship in a thunderstorm is a bad omen sent by our patron saint, Elmo.”

“What rubbish!” Isis scoffed. “Everyone knows the Egyptian god Seth makes thunder and lightning happen.”

Tom rolled his eyes.

“No pirate wants St Elmo’s Fire on the high seas!” Sal looked suddenly worried and darted out of the galley, carrying Blackbeard’s breakfast tray.

Later, out on deck, Tom watched as Blackbeard paced up and down the length of the ship, muttering at anyone who got in his way.

“Bad omens!” he bellowed at a young pirate who was fixing the knots in some rigging.

Blackbeard stomped off, kicking out at a scrubbing brush that was in his path.

“Blasted brush! Think you can trip me up and break my neck?!” he boomed. “GGGGGRRRRR!” He picked up the brush and threw it overboard.

Next, Blackbeard ordered an inspection. The entire crew lined up, standing tall with their guns slung across their chests. Blackbeard walked down the row, eyeing up every man from beneath bristly eyebrows.

Tom held his breath as the captain stopped in front of a short pirate. The colour drained out of the pirate’s face. Blackbeard grabbed his gun and rubbed a tiny streak of oil off the barrel.

“Filthier than a bilge rat!” Blackbeard cried. “Little Jack!” he called to his quartermaster. “Give this backwards blowfish ten lashes o’ the whip!”

As the offending pirate was dragged away, Tom gulped. Blimey! he thought. If Blackbeard had caught us last night, imagine what sort of trouble we’d have faced!

“Set sail for Coral Cove!” Blackbeard shouted. “We’ll hide in the bay and watch the merchant ships sail past on their way back to Europe.” He swung round and grabbed Tom and Isis by their shirts. “Up to the crow’s nest with you two!” he said. “I want you to keep an eye out for Spanish ships. Big galleons. White flag with a knotted red cross. Got it?”

“Yes,” Isis said, impatiently. “Big ship, red cross!”

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