Pirate's Promise (5 page)

“It means we clean the ship,” said Benjy. “We run close to shore and turn the ship on her side. We scrape away the sea plants and the little shellfish. They hold fast to the wood. We must scrape them away before they grow hard and heavy like stone.”

“Where will you go to careen the ship?” asked Tom.

“To our island,” said Benjy.

“What island is that?” asked Tom.

“The island of the pirates,” said Benjy. “It is where the pirates go to careen their ships. They stop there for food and water. They rest there after a long voyage. It is where they are safe from the law.” He smiled at Tom. “It is our own island. You will see it tomorrow.”

In the morning Tom saw the island. There was a beach of shining white sand. Beyond the beach was a bright green jungle. Birds flew in and out of the jungle and over the boats in the harbor. It was a beautiful sight.

But the town on the harbor was far from beautiful. It was a town of huts and tents. The huts were made of driftwood and palm leaves. The tents were made of old sails that flapped in the wind. There were broken bottles in the streets.

Tom went ashore with Benjy and Captain Land. Benjy carried a hammock, a water bottle, and the captain's sea chest.

There were ragged, barefoot people on the wharf. Most of them were men, but a few were women and children.

“These people live here,” Benjy told Tom. “They hunt and fish and have gardens. On this island they can live without much work.”

“Where did they come from?” asked Tom.

“Many places,” said Benjy. “Some were shipwrecked here. Some came to be safe from the law.”

“Why doesn't the law come here?” asked Tom.

Benjy told him, “Near our island the sea is not deep, and our ships are small and light. We can sail these waters. But the ships of the law are not small and light. They would be wrecked here.”

Captain Land led the way past the town and down the beach.

At the edge of the jungle they came to a small house. Vines had grown over it until it was almost hidden.

“It is the captain's house. He sleeps here when we are on the island,” said Benjy. “It is good and strong, this house. I made it myself from an old wrecked ship.”

The door was open. Tom looked inside. There was only one room, and it was empty.

Benjy told Tom and the captain, “Do not go inside yet. There may be snakes or spiders with poison in their bites.”

He went into the house. With a palm branch he swept the walls and floor. He put up the hammock and set the sea chest beside it.

Afterward Tom went with him to find food and water. They went to a clearing in the jungle. There was a well in the clearing.

Benjy took the cover off the well. He let down the bottle and drew it up full of water.

Near the well Tom found a vine heavy with grapes.

“Pick some for our captain,” said Benjy, “while I find something more.”

He took the pistol out of his belt. He went on into the jungle.

Tom put two leaves together to make a basket. He filled it with grapes. Then he sat down on the well cover to wait for Benjy.

He thought of his sister, Dinah. He wondered how long it would be before they were together again. How surprised she would be, he thought, if she could see him here in this island jungle!

In a little while Benjy was back. He had shot a young goat. He carried it over his shoulder. Tom carried the water and the grapes.

As they came out of the jungle, someone called, “Halloo!”

They stopped and looked back.

Three men were sitting on the beach. There was a cook-fire near them on the sand. Over the fire hung part of a roasted pig.

One of the men was picking his teeth with a long knife.

He called again, “Halloo! Boy! Come here!”

Tom went to where the men were sitting. The man who had called him wore velvet and lace and fine leather boots. He wore a hat with purple feathers. A thick, red beard covered half his face.

“Now here is a sight I never thought to see,” he said. “Here is a lad with hair as red as my beard! Where do you come from, boy?”

“From England, sir,” said Tom.

“Where do you go with your grapes and water bottle?”

“To the house of Captain Land,” answered Tom.

The man sat up straight. “Is Captain Land your master?”

“I am my own master,” said Tom.

The man burst out laughing. “You are not afraid to speak up, I see. No more was I afraid when I was young. Good day, lad. Get along with you. We may meet again.”

Tom and Benjy went away.

Benjy said, “You must not be so bold.”

“Did I say something wrong?” asked Tom.

Benjy did not answer. He said nothing more until they were back at the house.

Captain Land was lying in the hammock. Benjy told him, “Captain Red is here.”

“Ah,” said Captain Land, and a strange look came into his eyes.

That night the crew of the
Sea Bird
camped along the beach. The next day they were ready to clean the ship. They ran her close to shore. With ropes they pulled her over on her side and tied her to a tree that grew near the water.

Captain Land kept to his house. He had a fever, he said.

Benjy told Tom, “It is island fever. Always it comes to him here. But he is soon well again.”

Benjy and Tom took turns staying with Captain Land. Sometimes, when Benjy was at the house, Tom walked along the beach by himself.

He found a little bay where waves came up over the rocks. It was hidden from the rest of the beach by sand hills. He liked to sit there and look out to sea.

One day a man came upon him in the little bay. It was the man with the red beard.

“Halloo!” he called. “Why are you hiding there?”

“I am
not
hiding,” answered Tom.

“It would do you no good if you were. Anyone could see your red head a mile away.” The man came down over the sand hills. “I want a word with you, English boy. How did you come to this island?”

“I came with Captain Land,” said Tom.

“What brought you and Captain Land together?”

“I was on an English ship,” said Tom. “I was bonded against my will. Captain Land kept me from being sold.”

“And now you are your own master,” said the man.

“Yes, sir,” said Tom.

“Then you shall sail with me,” said the man. “There is my ship across the harbor. I sail tomorrow.” He began to laugh. “What a pair we will make—I with my red beard, you with your red head!”

“Are you not a—a pirate?” asked Tom.

“That I am, and one of the best,” said the man. “Captain Red, they call me. It is a name men know and fear around the world. Do you want adventure, English boy? I'll show you adventure. Do you want gold? You'll see more gold than you can count, and maybe some of it for you. Speak up, English boy. Has the cat got your tongue?”

“I was only thinking,” said Tom. “Adventure and gold may be very well, but not—not the rest of it.”

“Not the rest of it?” Captain Red frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Not the life of a pirate,” said Tom.

“Why, it's the best life there is!” cried Captain Red.

“Not for me,” said Tom.

“You're a strange one. You wouldn't be bonded. The life of a pirate is not good enough for you,” said Captain Red. “What
do
you want?”

“I want to go back to England,” said Tom. “My sister is there. I want to work and make a home so that we can be together.”

Captain Red asked, “How will you get back to England?”

“Captain Land will help me,” said Tom. “He will put me ashore where I can find a ship to take me back.”

“He cannot sail until his ship is ready,” said Captain Red, “and that will not be soon. I passed by the
Sea Bird
an hour ago, and no man was working. They were all in town or sleeping in the shade. But my ship sails tomorrow. You shall sail with me, English boy.”

“Captain Land will help me find a way back to England,” Tom told him. “He has said so.”

“And so do I,” said Captain Red. “Do you think I would turn a boy into a pirate against his will? One week from today I'll have you on a ship to England. Is that good enough for you?”

“Yes, sir!” said Tom. “I thank you kindly.”

“I want no thanks,” said Captain Red. “Come. We'll go to my ship.”

“First I must see Captain Land,” said Tom.

“Why?” asked Captain Red.

“I must say good-by,” said Tom.

Already he was on his way, running across the beach toward Captain Land's house.

Benjy had built a small fire in front of the house. There was a kettle on the fire, and he was bending over it. He smiled when Tom came running up.

“The medicine I make is good,” said Benjy. “Today our captain is nearly well.”

“Is he inside?” asked Tom. “I want to say good-by.”

Benjy stopped smiling. “Good-by?”