14 The Caest of Souls

14. THE CHEST OF SOULS In the darkness, Matilda's hands closed around the object Bones had dropped. It was the key! But the thuds and shouts of the pirate crew were getting ever louder and closer. Suddenly, Matilda could see candlelight bouncing against the joists and feet tumbling down some steps. "Quick, Bones, we'd better hide!" she whispered, but Bones had already disappeared. Matilda was on her own.

And then it was too late. A huddle of ghostly pirates wielding cutlasses, muskets, and lanterns had spotted her and were advancing. "We've found that key, Cap'in!" shouted a scrawny pirate who was missing an arm. "But it looks like we've got a stowaway. Ye'd better come see!"

More ghost pirates swarmed into the gun deck, armed to the teeth and chattering excitedly. But as soon as they saw Matilda, they stopped in their tracks. Then louder thuds sounded and the steps groaned under a heavy weight. The pirate crowd parted and Twirlybeard

appeared. He was followed by his first mate, who had a firm hold of Jim. "Look, lads," Twirlybeard said with a laugh. "It appears that Jim's wee doggy has turned itself into a young lady...." The pirates giggled, twitching ner- vously and gripping their weapons tight. "But us piratin' types are a superstitious lot, and we don't like no girls on our ships. Shall we throw 'er overboard?" The pirates roared their approval. "TOSS 'ER IN THE SEA!" "FREE 'ER TO THE SHARKS!" "Give me that key, girl, and it'll save ye a drenchin'," said Twirlybeard as softly as he could.

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Matilda held the key close and looked at Jim, struggling in the arms of the first mate. But he wasn't looking at her. He was looking beyond her, wide-eyed, to the far corner of the gun deck. She turned to see what had caught his attention. There, glistening in the dim glow of the crew's lanterns, was a huge briny chest, entwined in ropes and chains and covered in barnacles.... The Chest of Souls!