Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas Read Online Free PDF Page B

Scrounger,” called Crossbones, “take the wheel. Steer a course thirty degrees west. Make sure our own ship follows us.”
    “Aye, aye, Crossbones,” said Mr. Scrounger, going to the wheelhouse.
    “Where are we going? Where are we going?” asked Jacob.
    Crossbones gave Jacob a nasty smile. “It is alwaysbest to remove a nuisance,” he said. “I happen to know a most exquisite stretch of beach not far from here that I’m sure these two will enjoy. A shame it happens to be on a desert island.”
    “A desert island? Without food and water? They’ll starve. They’ll starve.”
    “Do you think I care? If I weren’t cruel and ruthless, I wouldn’t be called Crossbones, would I? I’d be called Henry or George. I just don’t know what they teach you in school these days.”
    “I had an uncle named Henry,” said one of the pirates. “And an aunt named George.”
    “Be quiet, you. I can see the island now. One drooping palm tree to keep them company. Send the two troublemakers down.”
    Jacob watched in dismay as the intrepid Shapiro and the fearless O’Toole were put into a lifeboat with one of the pirates and lowered to the water. The pirate rowed to a tiny island with a single palm tree and a single rock on it. He untied the intrepid Shapiro and the fearless O’Toole, drew his sword, and forced them out of the boat. Once the Infamous Two were out of the boat, the pirate rowed back to the ship.
    “Good luck to ya,” called Crossbones, laughing heartily. “All right, Mr. Scrounger, take us away.”
    The ship began to move. As he looked down at the helpless duo, Jacob noticed one of the lower cabin windows opening. A canvas bag flew out the window and landed on the island. It opened up and out spilled bottles of water, boxes of crackers, chocolate bars, and other supplies. Through the window, a big, muscled arm appeared and gave the thumbs-up sign. It was Morgenbesser!
    “Good old Morgenbesser,” Jacob whispered.
    “Eh, what’s that? What are you mumbling?” asked Crossbones.
    “Just that the morning couldn’t be better, couldn’t be better,” Jacob said.
    “You are a mixed-up kid. It isn’t even morning. And things are going to get much worse. Captain Sparkletooth, hand over the treasure.”
    “But I told you, we have no treasure,” the captain said. “We have a load of freeze-dried cottage cheese. We have seven barrels of prunes. But we don’t have any treasure on this ship.”
    “Of course you do. Mr. Scrounger informed,enlightened, and apprised me – that is, he told me so. Scrounger, get out here!”
    Mr. Scrounger came out of the wheelhouse. The parrot squawked, “
I love to dance the tango! I love to dance the tango!
”
    “You’ll be roasting in the oven if you don’t shut your beak,” said Crossbones. “Now, tell us about the treasure, Mr. Scrounger.”
    “Walking about the ship, I heard somebody whispering. I don’t know who it was, but I know for certain that somebody is hiding treasure on this ship.”
    Crossbones put his hand on the hilt of his sword. “We better get everyone here then. Pirates, unbar that door and let the other passengers up on deck.”
    The pirates opened the door and the passengers filed out. “Jacob, are you alright?” cried his mother. His father rushed toward him too, followed by Daniel and Marfa.
    Mrs. Snootcastle hurried up to Cindy. “All I can say is this shows some very bad manners,” said Mrs. Snootcastle.
    “Everyone here?” said Crossbones. “Good. And now if the person who has the treasure will take one step forward, we can have all of this settled by dinnertime.”

CHAPTER 11
    acob knew what they were thinking:
Who has the treasure?
Of course he knew. The treasure was in Cindy’s pocket. All she had to do was give it to Crossbones, and he and his dastardly pirates would put away their daggers and swords and sail away on their pirate ship.
    Jacob looked over at Cindy. She stood by her mother, staring down at her shoes. She