13 Jim, The Captive

Chapter 13. JIM, THE CAPTIVE From the rowboat, Matilda could hear feet shuffling across the deck above, heading toward where the grappling hook and rope hung from the Black Rat's rail. Her heart beat hard against her ribs. Could she row fast enough to escape? She'd never rowed a boat before—the ghostly pirates would definitely catch her. She thought about swimming for it instead. She'd recently got her fifty-yard

badge at swim club, but it was probably more than fifty yards back to the Blackhole. Then she thought of Jim. She couldn't leave him. Looking above her head, she spotted a row of closed gun ports, secured by lengths of twine. She grabbed a rusty cutlass, cut through the twine of the nearest port, and pushed it open above

her head. She jumped up and pulled her head and shoulders through the hole, grabbing the nearest cannon with one hand. It was cold and damp and inky black inside. The Black Rat's gun deck was the last place Matilda wanted to be, but she had to help Jim, so she dragged the rest of her body through the gun port. She was just in time. "There's a rowboat down 'ere, Cap'n! Loaded high with our booty!" a scurvy pirate shouted from up on deck.

"Shall we bring it back aboard?" "JUST FIND ME THAT DOG! I WANT MY KEY!" ordered Captain Twirlybeard. "The treasure can wait." Matilda heard scratching but it was so dark that she couldn't see what it was. She hoped it wasn't rats. Pirate ships were always full of rats. Then she heard something scuttling toward her. She froze. It licked her face. "Woof!" said Bones as he dropped something at Matilda's feet.

Back on deck, Jim was relieved that Matilda hadn't been found in the rowboat. But where was she? He doubted she would try to swim. The water was cold, and it was a long way back to the Blackhole. She must have gotten on board somehow. Jim's thoughts were interrupted by Captain Twirlybeard, twirling his beard menacingly in his fingers. "As for ye, boy, we've got all the time in the world. We need that key, but if yer still on board at sunrise, ye'll be joinin' us for a long, long month of darkness. That'll give us plenty of time to find yer mutt and the key. And maybe... if luck deserts ye... ye'll be joining us for a lot longer than that! ARRRRR!"

The surrounding crew guffawed. Jim wondered what Captain Twirlybeard meant. Would he be stuck aboard the Black Rat, with its deadly crew, until the next full moon? "ARRR, lads! Let's go on a DOG HUNT!" shouted Captain Twirlybeard, cutlass held high.