chapter 30!

Hey, guys, guess what? They're only 34 chapters...and this is chapter 30! Almost done... Here's the next chapter, tell me what ya'll think, ok?



Chapter 30:

The Ransom sailed into a small bay the next morning. Ahead of them lay the island.

"Alrightie! Lets go get us some treasure!" yelled Johnny, jumping into a row boat, holding a dagger in his teeth and a pick ax and a shovel in his hands.

All the rest of the crew was just as ready, and it was only minutes before they were ashore.

"We'll work on the Southern side of the island today." said Jamison plotting a map "You all know what signs we're looking for."

"I don't." said Sarah.

"Well, Captain Eddie marked the resting place of the treasure with three sculls."

Sarah winced.

"He killed the three men who helped him bury it, then sliced off their heads and threw them over the treasure."

They had to cross through long strips of jungle to get to the Southern side. The forests were dark and filled with biting insects and other nuisances.

"Do other pirates know of this treasure?" asked Sarah stepping carefully around swarm of bugs.

"Aye, every good pirate does. But we're the only crew who dares come hunt for it."

"Why is that?"

"This island is supposed to be haunted by the three men whom Eddie killed. Their ghosts, apparently, are still looking for a bloody revenge."

"Do you believe in ghosts?" asked Sarah, suddenly feeling a little nervous.

"No, do you?"

"No, they're no such thing as ghosts." said Sarah loudly.

As soon as the words came from her mouth, there came a deafening scream from the dark jungle ahead of them. Sarah jumped, and Jamison drew his sword, as did the rest of the crew.

"Tis' the ghosts, Captain Jamison!" cried Daniel Plank "I always knew we'd get caught by them sooner or later!"

"They're no such things as ghosts." said Jamison "And I shall prove it today."

Then, there was another scream, this one was followed by evil laughter.

"If it's not ghosts, what is it then?" asked David Rock

"I'm not really sure yet..." answered Jamison

"Lets get the blazes out of here!" cried Johnny Terror "Ghosts or not, this is scaring the living day-lights out of me!"

"Cowards!" said Jamison "You're all cowards! You don't see, Sarah, a girl, begging to leave, do ya?"

"Well, actually, Jamison." said Sarah "Could we please go now? Please? Can we?"

"There are no such things as ghosts!" thundered Jamison "And I'll prove it, for all of you." He stepped past everyone into the forest. "Show yourselves! For if you really are ghosts you have nothing to be afraid of, for I can not kill a ghost."

"Are you sure you want us to come out?" asked the voice

"Aye!"

There was a rustling of leaves, and into the clearing appeared three pirates.

"You are no ghosts." said Jamison sneering, keeping his sword drawn. "Who are you really? And what are you doing here? Speak!"

The group remained quite. "Speak, or die!" cried Jamison, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Alright! Alright!" cried one "We're off the ship the Black King! Our Captain said ghosts was just a tall tale, and said we was coming here to find that treasure. Then you came along, and he sent us to scare you off. That's all! Honest!"

Jamison nodded. "And have ya found the treasure?"

"Aye! We have! They're digging her up right now!"

Jamison turned to his crew. "Lets go, men. I'm not going to get into a bloody battle over that darn treasure. The Black King, they have a crew ten times the size as ours, and don't forget who their Captain is. Lets go."

Then there were loud shouts from the jungle, and in seconds, a whole army of pirates appeared. The battle began in a second.

"Run, Sarah! Run!" called Jamison.

Jamison quickly slew two men, then, taking one of their swords, he began fighting with two swords.

Sarah watched, terrified. She did not know or understand much of it. Who was the Black King's Captain? Why was he so innporant?

Then a tall man, dressed all on black appeared from the thick of the forest.

"Ah! The Ransom! Where's that dirty captain Frite?" he bellowed "If you want to end this battle without loosing all your men, tell your Captain I'll settle for just a duel between the two of us. If he wins, ya'll git' the treasure, but if I win, I win."

Jamison drew one of his swords out of a man's chest. "I killed Frite. I'm the Captain now."

"You? A little lad? A mere boy, a Captain?"

"I'm twenty-one, I'm no "little lad", and the name's Dread, Jamison Dread, you might have heard of me."

The Captain of the Black King tugged on his beard.

"Will you duel me instead?" asked Jamison, his dark eyes flashing.

"Aye, boy! If you dare to!"

"I do."

"You'll loose, my boy." said the Captain grinning

"Say whatever you like, sir, just call off your men, and lets fight!"