The tide was as high one night as it had ever been and a sleek ship stealthily slipped into port and tied up along the moonlit dock. She had masts and rigging of a fast pirate galleon. In the morning a group of curious sailors gathered on the dock when suddenly, Captain Sky appeared. He stepped out onto the quarterdeck and surveyed the gallery.
“Ye swabs down there below, are ye lads lookin’ for adventure?” the captain cynically asked. He strutted along the rail to see if men were jumping up and down to become crewmen. There were no immediate takers. Everyone was a little afraid of the Captain. He began to tell tales that made the men even more afraid and some began to back away. He made a stern face and stared cold into the dead of their eyes and said slyly…”Are ye afraid of PIRATES!” Many of the men ran and the rest cowered. That is, all but one. “NO sir,” The young man cried out.
“You ain’t afraid, ehh?” mocked the captain. “Not afraid of giant squid? Humongous humpback whales? Blood thirsty sharks and scalawags? How’s about waves as big as castles, ehhh??”
“No sir!” said the young man. “I am not afraid!”
“Come forward son and show yourself,” the captain commanded
“What’s your name lad?”
The young man answered, “My name is Dan, sir.” Captain Sky told Dan to make his mark on the ships log, which he did. “Welcome aboard the Golden Parrot, Pirate Dan.” From that day on he was known as Pirate Dan.
Pirate Dan was a bit perplexed, however. He wasn’t exactly sure how he would be able to help the captain sail his magnificent ship. He pointed to his wheelchair and asked the captain how he could be of help at sea. “Nonsense lad, looks like a boatswains chair to me. Now up the gangway and prepare to get underway.”
On the main deck Dan realized he could wheel around the entire deck with ease. Captain Sky showed Dan how he could use the ships rigging to get aloft or below. Using block and tackle Dan could hoist himself up to the mainsail spar or he could lower himself into the hold. The Captain took Dan forward into the boatswain’s locker. “This will be your space lad. You can stow your gear in here.” The Captain pointed out a hammock and said, “There’s no eatin’ in here; only in the galley.” That reminded Dan that he was hungry and he wondered what was for dinner.
A little later, Pirate Dan looked up to see Captain Sky at the helm. The captain looked down and said, “Take in all lines.” Dan went over and secured the forward and then aft lines. It was easy enough taking in the giant ropes. Dan gathered the lines and stowed them. Dan could see that the ship was slowly drifting with the currents and out towards the mouth of the harbor. The captain barked out, “Set the mainsail!” Pirate Dan went over to the mainmast and pulled the mainsail lines. The huge black mainsail unfurled. Dan held the lines fast with his massive arms and the wind took the sail. The ship leaned to leeward and with that, their adventures began!
They were sailing due west and the ship was slicing through the swells. The salty sea air would spray over the bow each time the ships prow dipped down into the aquamarine water. Dan went forward on the forecastle and watched his first sunset at sea. He never believed that he would somehow be lucky enough to be at sea, let alone be a Privateer, crewing for the infamous Captain Sky. With his head resting on the side rail he could hear sounds of water rushing by. He fell asleep there that night.
He woke up to eight bells and Captain Sky calling to set the morning watch. Dan took up his station at the wheel. He was a natural at manning the wheel and he kept the glorious vessel running with the wind. Dan looked off the starboard bow and saw a pod of dolphins racing with Golden Parrot. The captain said to maintain a course of 240 degrees, due west.
Later that day, Pirate Dan asked where they were going. The captain replied that they were sailing to Tortuga. A local bloke there had the captain’s treasure map. “And I intend to retrieve what’s rightfully mine.” Seems the skipper was bushwhacked on the island fortress on his last visit and his precious map was pilfered by Barnacle Bob. Barnacle Bob was a big brute whose glory days as a pirate were long past. He was a blacksmith and a thief and he had a mean temper. He had scraggly hair and a big red beard. He was keelhauled so many times for stealing that everyone called Barnacle.
The Captain relieved Dan at the wheel and told him to prepare for heavy weather. “Batten down the hatches,” he ordered. Pirate Dan went all about the ship, closing hatches and portholes. Soon after, the ship began to rock and roll with the heavy swells. He didn’t mind, Dan loved rock and roll! Later, the clouds became more ominous and lightning began to flash on the horizon. At one point, when Dan was helping Captain Sky hold the wheel steady, a lightning bolt flashed across the sky. Dan realized he could see miles of ocean and that they were on a wave higher than a castle! All night long the galleon was tossed like a tiny cork.
When Pirate Dan awoke, he couldn’t believe his eyes. The Golden Parrot was cruising on glassy seas as the sun’s fire ball peered out from behind the earth’s edge. Big billowing clouds caught the fire red and orange colors, and surrounded in clouds in front of them was the Island of the Turtle, Tortuga! “Make all preparations for entering port.” The Captain ordered.
The Golden Parrot was truly a sight to behold. She gallantly slipped into the harbor with the greatest of ease. Only her black main topsail and her spanker were unfurled and the Captain expertly guided the ship into port. The Golden Parrot was a rich deep amber color with red trim. All of the portals and gunnels were decorated with ornamentation and Captain Sky prominently flew his Jolly Roger. People on shore were in awe of the galleon as she came to rest at the governor’s pier. “Take command of the Parrot lad, I shall be right back,” the Captain ordered. “Let no one come aboard and fire the cannon if there is any trouble. ”Aye aye,” Dan answered. He felt proud that the skipper trusted him with his ship.
The Captain jumped onto the pier and ran up the alleyway to the blacksmith shop. Barnacle Bob was working in island blacksmith shop and the skipper planned to make a friendly call on him there. Morning and noon passed. Finally, late that afternoon, as Dan diligently stood watch on the quarterdeck, Captain Sky and Barnacle Bob came staggering down the little backstreet. They were holding each other up and singing and dancing a little jig. They came alongside the ship and the Captain cried out, “Prepare to get underway, Dannyboy.”
And so the skipper came aboard and introduced Pirate Dan to Barnacle Bob. He told Dan that once they were underway, Barnacle Bob had agreed to put the treasure map on the chart table. He stepped back and gave a sly wink to Dan, so Dan knew something was up. They cast off their moorings and as agreed, Bob tacked the map to the skippers chart table. “Take the wheel Pirate Dan….and keep a sharp eye out!” Dan knew something was going to happen as he grabbed the large wooden ship’s wheel.
“Bob ole boy, how’s about you go forward and set the jib sail.” Now Dan knew they shouldn’t be setting the jib so he was on high alert. “Here, let me help you with that sail there Bobbo.” said the skipper. He walked forward like he was going to help Barnacle Bob. But about half way, the Captain drew his sword and chopped the jib sail rigging right in half. Bob looked up confused as the skipper cried out, “Hard to starboard.” That brought the jib boom swinging around too fast for Bob to get out of the way.
Smack! The jib sail spar hit Bob square in the breadbasket and he went flying off the Golden Parrot and right into the drink!
Splaaaaash! Bob hit the water dazed and confused. The skipper ran to the rail laughing as the Golden Parrot picked up speed, leaving Bob in her wake. Bob was screaming and holding up his fist, but the skipper knew he would be alright. “That serves the scalawag right for stealin’ my treasure map in the first place.” And so the pirate pair left Tortuga on a course around Haiti and then south-south-west. That would bring them into the heart of the Spanish Main. It would also bring more pirates, especially after Barnacle Bob was fished out of the harbor and everyone found out Captain Sky was heading for his treasure.
For dinner that night, they celebrated with the Captain’s favorite meal, pizza. The Captain drew his sword and chopped off a huge slice of pepperoni. Then he flicked it up to Dan. Then he speared a huge dripping slice for himself. The crew ate their fill of pizza and washed it down with ale.
Shortly after dinner, Dan and the skipper were on the quarter deck when they saw lights on the horizon; Barnacle Bob and his band of bloodthirsty bounty buccaneers. “Set full sail Dannyboy and we’ll slip these scourges.” Dan set about rigging the galleon for full sail and she picked up speed almost immediately. It was a beautiful and balmy night. The sky was crimson, even after sunset. The waning moon clung to the edge of the sky and the pirate galleon pushed deeper and farther into the Caribbean Sea.
That night Dan was feeling a little blue. Up till now it had been fun with Captain Sky, but he had been at sea for a long time now. Seeing Tortuga was exciting but the stay there was too short. And now, real bloodthirsty pirates were after them and the future seemed as uncertain as the weather. Captain Sky poked his head into the forecastle compartment where Dan was. “Sorry to interrupt lad,” he said, “but the wind is shifting and the seas will probably get very rough tonight.” Dan nodded and the skipper returned to the helm.
Now Dan was feeling really down. He lay there in his hammock as it gently rocked back and forth. Then he heard the most incredible sound. A song really, but not like anything he had ever heard before. It was underwater sounds of melancholy. It was the most peaceful, gentle singing he had ever heard. Just then Captain Sky popped his head in, again, ”Don’t be alarmed Dannyboy…those are Humpback whales lad…they’re just probably feeling a little bit blue also .” Dan fell asleep to the whale songs.
Dan was awakened violently in the dead of the night. The ship had smashed into a huge rogue wave. The vessel was obviously in the middle of a fierce storm. He put on his rain gear and managed to work his way aft to join the captain. The captain was in his full rain gear and he ordered Dan to take in all sail. Dan set to reefing all the ships canvass. The ship was entering another huge storm. This storm was bigger than the last and the wind was beginning to howl. For the rest of the night, the Golden Parrot was hammered by the worst the seas could muster.
Suddenly there was a crash on the ship’s side! The skipper looked overboard and saw that a hole was torn in the hull. “Get below Dan and secure that breach.” Dan immediately went below. The main deck was awash with sea water almost two feet deep. He used some planks and couple of beams to push back on the hull and managed to shore up the crack. He reported back to the skipper that the hull was fixed but that the lots of things down below were all wet.
The storm lasted for a day and a half, but finally the seas gave way to calm. On the third day, they sighted a small island. Captain Sky was very excited. They sailed into a small cove and the skipper ordered, “Anchor’s aweigh.” Then Captain Sky told Dan the plan. He told Dan to remain on board and keep a sharp lookout. He was to ring the ships bell if he saw Barnacle Bob and his band of bandits.
The captain set off in the whaleboat. He rowed ashore and took his shovel with him. He went to a place where two rocks made the shape of a triangle. The captain stood with his back to the rocks and then counted off 21 paces just like his map indicated. Now the skipper was working very fast in anticipation of seeing his precious treasure again. After minutes of digging, he hit something. He pulled the chest onto the sand and tossed his shovel aside. Slowly he opened his treasure chest up and there it was; a king’s ransom. So the captain dragged the chest into the little boat and began to row back to the Parrot.
Suddenly he heard the alarm! Pirate Dan was on the quarter deck ringing the bell and waving his hand. The captain rowed faster. When he came alongside, Dan rushed over to the rail and helped drag the booty on deck. But there was no time to celebrate. Captain Sky drew a bead on the fast approaching ship through his telescope. Sure enough it was Barnacle Bob’s three-masted bark, the Viper. “Let’s get underway with full sail,” the captain ordered Dan. Dan set all the sails and the Golden Parrot began to make headway. “We’ll have to run the gauntlet Pirate Dan. Man the cannons and prepare to fight.”
With that, Dan went below and loaded the cannons. The two ships slowly came alongside. The Captain said, “Steady. Hold your fire till I say Pirate Dan.” Dan stood at the ready and when the Viper was in his sights he heard the Captain cry out, “Fire!” Dan put the spark to the fuse and there was a thud and a little puff of smoke came out the mouth of the cannon. “What is it?” the captain cried out. Pirate Dan replied, “Our powder got all wet in the storm and our guns aren’t working sir.” Disappointed the skipper ordered Dan to stow the guns and come topside. “We’ll have to fight them the old way Dannyboy,” and he tossed Dan a sword.
As they stood there ready, they could see the Viper had the same problem. Apparently their powder got wet in the storm too, because none of their cannons worked. Still the two ships came closer and closer.
They could hear the crew of the Viper yelling insults at them as they were preparing to board the Golden Parrot, but each time they yelled something, Dan would say something back that was really funny. They continued to yell at Pirate Dan and the skipper, but each time, Dan’s response was funnier than ever. In fact the crew began to laugh. They began to laugh so hard at his jokes that one by one, they fell into the water. Finally Barnacle Bob who was in tears for fifteen minutes, fell off and his ship with a flip and the entire crew of the viper laughed even harder.
It was just the break Captain Sky and Pirate Dan needed. The captain told Dan to secure the treasure and prepare to sail off to another new adventure.
The Golden Parrot sailed off into the rich Caribbean sunset. Captain Sky knew that wouldn't be the end of ole Barnacle Bob, but for now, all was good. The seas were calm and the wind was favorable and that night the wily crew feasted on pizza.
