Page 20 - My FlipBook

Chapter Six

Afa was a happy fisherman.
After he and his friends walked the pirates’ plank and went splash into the sea,

they swam to the pirates’ old lifeboat.

They huddled inside it to rest for a while, and then began to row towards their
home. They were wondering how long it would take them, when they saw a flock of

parrots wheeling through the sky, with something trailing from their claws.
“That’s our net!” cried Afa. He watched the parrots fly to the pirate ship. He saw

them drop the net.

And, many instants later, he saw them fly up into the air again and flap away.
“Let’s see if we can get our net back!” Afa said. So the fishermen rowed towards

the Seaslug 2. They were puzzled to see nobody on board.
As they drew close, they heard the gulps and gurgles of the despairing pirates.

Taking pity on them, the fishermen hauled them up into the lifeboat in a great
quivering, soggy heap.

The pirates were still all tied together in the net. They were too cold and wet to

even swear, but just sat looking very sorry for themselves.
“Where’s your Captain?” Afa asked them. They pointed at the Seaslug 2.

So the fishermen climbed on board. The ship seemed to be deserted... until they
heard a horrible yelping and yowling coming from the hold.

They opened the trapdoor and looked down. There was Captain Snatchit, up to his

knees in bad-tempered crabs. He had crabs in his hair, crabs clinging to his sleeves,
and a crab dangling from each ear.

“Get me out of here!” he howled.
The fishermen pulled him out, de-crabbed him and put him in the lifeboat with his

crew.

Then they took down the Jolly Roger from the mast and put back their own flag
(which showed two crossed herrings and an oyster).